High-Risk Obesity Phenotypes: Target for Multimorbidity Prevention at the ROFEMI Study

Area of Science:

• Internal Medicine
• Obesity Research
• Metabolic Health

Background:

• Investigated patient profiles with obesity in internal medicine.
• Determined the role of adiposity and inflammation in metabolic risk.
• Identified high-risk obesity phenotypes using cluster analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify distinct patient profiles within high-risk obesity using cluster analysis.
• To characterize the metabolic and inflammatory profiles associated with obesity phenotypes.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional, multicenter study of 536 internal medicine outpatients.
• Classified patients into risk groups based on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC).
• Employed hierarchical and partitioning clustering to define obesity profiles.

Main Results:

• 86% of subjects (462) were classified as high-risk obesity.
• Two distinct profiles emerged: Cluster 1 (n=396) and Cluster 2 (n=47).
• Cluster 2 exhibited significantly worse outcomes: older age, higher comorbidity index, depression, severe disability, sarcopenia, and increased inflammation (hsCRP).

Conclusions:

• Two distinct profiles of high-risk obesity were identified in internal medicine patients.
• Older individuals with obesity and severe comorbidities, disability, and sarcopenia represent a high-risk group.
• Interventions should target sarcopenia, disability, psychological health, and comorbidities in older obese patients to prevent deterioration.