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Obesity and cardiovascular outcomes: A review

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Vijay KunadianORCiD

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Abstract

The prevalence of obesity is increasing at an epidemic rate globally with more than 1 billion adults overweight and at least 300 million of them clinically obese. This is expected to rise further in the next 20 to 30 years. Obesity is known to be an independent risk factor for serious health conditions, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Given the association of obesity with cardiovascular disease, it could be speculated that obese individuals would have adverse outcomes after a cardiovascular event compared to those with normal body mass index (BMI). However, various studies have reported a paradoxical U-shaped relationship between obesity and mortality from various diseases, including myocardial infarction and heart failure, suggesting that patients with higher BMI have similar or lower short- and long-term mortality rates. This phenomenon has been termed the ‘obesity paradox’ or ‘reverse epidemiology’. The goal of this review is to evaluate the potential mechanisms behind the obesity paradox and its implications. © 2014, The European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Ghoorah K, Campbell P, Kent A, Maznyczka A, Kunadian V

Publication type: Review

Publication status: Published

Journal: European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care

Year: 2016

Volume: 5

Issue: 1

Pages: 77-85

Print publication date: 01/02/2016

Online publication date: 13/02/2014

Acceptance date: 01/01/1900

ISSN (print): 2048-8726

ISSN (electronic): 2048-8734

URL: http://doi.org/10.1177/2048872614523349

DOI: 10.1177/2048872614523349

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