Comorbidity associated with obesity in a large population: The APNA study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Overweight and obesity are significant global health concerns, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality.
• Comorbidities associated with excess weight pose a substantial burden on healthcare systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between overweight and obesity and various comorbidities.
• To quantify the risk of developing specific health conditions in relation to body mass index (BMI).

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional study involving 40,010 patients from Primary Health Care Centres in Navarra.
• Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR) for comorbidities, with a BMI < 25 kg/m² as the reference.

Main Results:

• Increasing BMI correlated with glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, kidney failure, and osteoarthritis.
• Higher degrees of obesity were linked to asthma, heart failure, and severe mental disorders.
• Type II and morbid obesity showed associations with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and depression.

Conclusions:

• Overweight and obesity are positively associated with a range of conditions including metabolic disorders, cardiovascular issues, and kidney problems.
• Higher BMI levels demonstrate a notable association with depression, underscoring the mental health impact of obesity.