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Body mass index and coronary artery disease in African-Americans
L L Adams-Campbell1, R L Peniston, K S Kim
1Howard University Cancer Center, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Washington, D.C. 20060, USA.
Insights
Overweight and obesity are significant risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) in African Americans. This study found an inverted U-shaped relationship between body mass index (BMI) and CAD risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- African Americans have high rates of both obesity and coronary artery disease (CAD) mortality.
- Limited data exist on the relationship between obesity and CAD specifically within the African American population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the association between body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in African Americans.
- To investigate the specific relationship between different weight categories (lean, overweight, obese) and CAD risk in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 866 cardiac catheterization reports from Howard University Hospital (1983-1990).
- Analysis of patient data to determine CAD prevalence based on gender.
- Categorization of patients by BMI to assess overweight and obesity prevalence.
Main Results:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) was prevalent in 59.6% of males and 41.2% of females.
- Overweight prevalence was 22.4% in males and 39.6% in females; obesity was 20.9% in males and 30.6% in females.
- An inverted U-shaped relationship was observed between body mass index (BMI) and CAD, indicating increased risk for overweight individuals compared to lean or obese individuals.
Conclusions:
- Being overweight is associated with an elevated risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in African Americans.
- The findings suggest a complex, non-linear relationship between BMI and CAD.
- Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms underlying this inverted U-shaped association in African Americans.
Abstract:
There are limited data available concerning the influence of obesity, a major cardiovascular disease risk factor, in relationship to coronary artery disease (CAD). This is of considerable importance to African-Americans since African-Americans have one of the world's highest CAD mortality rates coupled with the fact that obesity is extremely prevalent in this population. The present study assessed the relationship between body mass index and CAD in African-Americans undergoing coronary angiography. Eight hundred sixty-six available cardiac catheterization reports between the years 1983 through 1990 were retrospectively reviewed at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. CAD was prevalent in 59.6% and 41.2%, males and females, respectively. Among the males overweight and obesity were found in 22.4% and 20.9%, respectively, compared to 39.6% and 30.6% for females. An upside-down U-shaped relationship between BMI and CAD was found. The interpretation of this finding is that being overweight is associated with increased risk of CAD compared to the lean and obese.