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Association between obesity and cardiac conduction defects
Mohamed A Mostafa1, Jeff A Kingsley1, Elsayed Z Soliman1
1Department of Cardiovascular medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States.
Insights
High body mass index (BMI) is linked to an increased risk of cardiac conduction defects (CCD), particularly at-rioventricular block (AVB). This association is more pronounced in older individuals, men, and those with diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Limited literature exists on the connection between high body mass index (BMI) and cardiac conduction defects (CCD).
- Obesity is a growing public health concern with potential cardiovascular implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cross-sectional association between various BMI levels and the prevalence of cardiac conduction defects (CCD).
- To identify specific subgroups within the population where this association may be stronger.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 455,790 participants in the UK Biobank.
- Defined CCD using ICD codes for atrioventricular block (AVB) or intraventricular block (IVB).
- Employed multivariable logistic regression to analyze the relationship between BMI and CCD.
Main Results:
- A 1-unit increase in BMI correlated with a 3% rise in CCD odds (OR 1.03).
- Marked obesity (BMI >40) increased CCD odds by 20% compared to normal BMI.
- The association was significantly stronger in older adults, men, and individuals with diabetes.
Conclusions:
- Elevated BMI is associated with an increased risk of CCD, primarily driven by AVB.
- Interventions targeting weight management in obese individuals may reduce CCD risk, warranting further investigation.
Background:
Literature on the association between high body mass index (BMI) and cardiac conduction defects (CCD) is scarce.
Methods:
The cross-sectional association between obesity and CCD was examined in 455,790 participants (56.1 years; 55.9% females) from the United Kingdom (UK) Biobank. CCD was defined by ICD codes as the presence of either atrioventricular block (AVB) or intraventricular block (IVB). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between different levels of BMI and CCD.
Results:
About 2.7% (n = 12,169) of the participants exhibited CCD. Each 1-SD increase in BMI (4.68 kg/m2) was associated with increased odds of CCD (OR (95% CI): 1.03 (1.01, 1.06). In subgroup analysis, this association was stronger in older participants (>65 vs. <65 years), men than women, and participants with diabetes (interaction p-value < 0.05 for all). In a stratified analysis by CCD subtypes, each 1-SD of BMI was associated with increased odds of AVB, but not IVB [OR (95% CI): 1.04 (1.01, 1.07), 0.97 (0.89, 1.05), respectively]. Compared to normal BMI (25-29.9 Kg/m2), participants with marked obesity, defined as BMI >40 Kg/m2, had 20% increased odds of CCD (OR (95% CI): 1.20 (1.04, 1.39). No significant association was observed with BMI between 30 and 39.9 Kg/m2.
Conclusions:
Higher BMI levels are associated with an increased risk of CCD, which is probably triggered by AVB, and the association is stronger in men, the elderly, and those with diabetes; further research is needed to examine whether weight management in obesity will be accompanied by a reduction in the risk of CCD.
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