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Cardiovascular risk factors in gross obesity
Insights
Obese patients frequently have cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension and glucose intolerance. Overweight and age significantly increase the prevalence of these risks, especially in severely obese individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Obesity is a growing global health concern.
- Cardiovascular risk factors (RF) are prevalent in obese populations.
- Understanding RF prevalence is crucial for preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in a cohort of obese patients.
- To determine the association between obesity severity, age, and the presence of RF.
- To identify specific RF most common in obese individuals.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 500 obese patients (146 men, 354 women).
- Data collection included age, Broca index (obesity measure), and prevalence of hypertension, glucose intolerance, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperuricemia.
- Statistical analysis to assess correlations between overweight, age, and RF.
Main Results:
- Hypertension (71%) was the most common RF, followed by glucose intolerance (49%).
- Only 12% of patients were free of RF; these were younger and less obese.
- RF prevalence increased with age and overweight; overweight showed a stronger correlation with overall RF burden (r=0.35) than age (r=0.23).
Conclusions:
- Obese patients exhibit a high prevalence of cardiovascular RF.
- Increased overweight and, to a lesser extent, age are associated with a higher RF burden.
- Patients with severe obesity (Broca index >150) are at high risk for coronary heart disease.
Abstract:
In 500 obese patients (146 men, mean age 37 +/- 13 years, Broca index 147 +/- 24; 354 women, mean age 36 +/- 14 years, Broca index 151 +/- 28) cardiovascular risk factors (RF) were investigated. The most frequent RF was hypertension (71 per cent), followed by glucose intolerance (49 per cent), hypertriglyceridemia (31 per cent), hypercholesterolemia (22 per cent) and hyperuricemia (22 per cent). Only 12 per cent of the patients were without RF. These patients were younger and less obese than the patients with RF. The prevalence of RF increased with increasing age and overweight. Analysis revealed significant correlations between overweight and blood pressure, blood glucose, insulin and age. Significant correlations between age and hypertension, blood glucose cholesterol, triglycerides and overweight were detected. The correlation between overweight and the sum of all RF was higher (r = 0.35) than the one between age and the sum of all (r = 0.23). Obese patients had a high prevalence of RF. Increasing overweight and (to a lesser extent) age are both associated with increased prevalence of RF. On the basis of the prevalence of RF, patients with gross obesity (Broca index greater than around 150) were considered to be at a high risk in respect of coronary heart disease.