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Distribution of Body Mass Index in Indian patients with coronary artery disease

C S Thomas1, S Krishnaswami

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore.

Indian Heart Journal
|March 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Indian patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) often have a low Body Mass Index (BMI), challenging typical obesity assumptions. This study found that CAD can occur even with a BMI below overweight thresholds.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Anthropometry

Background:

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a significant health concern globally.
  • Obesity is a known risk factor for CAD, but its prevalence in Indian populations with CAD requires specific investigation.
  • Understanding the Body Mass Index (BMI) distribution in Indian CAD patients is crucial for risk stratification and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Indian patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD).
  • To analyze the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and the severity of CAD in Indian patients.
  • To explore correlations between BMI, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and demographic factors in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on computerized data of 1078 Indian patients with angiographically proven CAD.
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated using height and weight data, with overweight defined as BMI > 27 kg/m2 and obesity as BMI > 30 kg/m2.
  • Statistical analysis examined BMI distribution across different CAD severities and in relation to risk factors like smoking, diabetes, hypertension, family history, occupation, and lipid profiles.

Main Results:

  • Only 8.2% of Indian CAD patients were overweight, and 2.2% were obese, indicating a significant proportion have CAD with normal or low BMI.
  • Coronary artery disease was observed in individuals with BMIs as low as 15 kg/m2.
  • No significant difference in BMI was found between patients with and without smoking, diabetes, or hypertension, but BMI was higher in those with a positive family history (p < 0.01).
  • BMI was higher in businessmen and executives, though not reaching overweight or obese categories, and showed no correlation with lipid fractions.

Conclusions:

  • Angiographically proven coronary artery disease in Indian patients can be present even with a low Body Mass Index (BMI).
  • The findings challenge the universal applicability of BMI thresholds for overweight and obesity in the context of CAD risk assessment in Indian populations.
  • Further research is needed to understand the specific etiological factors contributing to CAD in lean or normal-weight Indian individuals.

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