Association between obesity and infarct size: insight into the obesity paradox.

Abstract: Background: In patients with coronary heart disease, being overweight or obese is associated with better outcomes, a phenomenon known as the \u27obesity paradox\u27. Despite the high prevalence of obesity in the United Sates, its effects on infarct size are largely unexplored. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study of 102 consecutive patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Standardized forms were used to collect data on body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), cardiovascular risk factors, and medications. Peak troponin I and creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) were used to estimate infarct size. Epicardial and pericardial fat were measured by echocardiography. We used univariate and multivariate analyses to assess whether obesity was associated with infarct size. Correlations between BMI, WC and cardiac fat with cardiac biomarkers were also performed. Results: Mean age was 62±12 years, and 55% were men. Obesity was diagnosed in 69%. On multivariate analysis, obesity was associated with greater infarct size in non-ST elevation MI (p=0.02). A positive correlation was observed between BMI and peak troponin I (rho=0.24, p=0.03), and both, BMI and WC had a positive correlations with CPK levels (rho=0.28, & rho=0.28, both p=0.02). However, in ST elevation MI, obesity was associated with smaller infarct size (p=0.05). Epicardial fat + pericardial fat had a negative correlation with peak CPK levels (rho=-0.36, p=0.05). Conclusions: We observed an opposite association between obesity and infarct size depending on the type of MI. These results were unexpected and may provide insight into the pathophysiology of the obesity paradox

Relation Between Obesity and Survival in Patients Hospitalized for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (from a Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database 2003 to 2011).

There have been numerous studies reporting lower mortality rates in obese patients with various cardiovascular disorders than in nonobese patients, a phenomenon known as the obesity paradox. Limited data exist regarding the effect of obesity on prognosis in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We used the National Inpatient Sample database for years 2003 to 2011 to identify all patient hospitalizations aged ≥18 years with a primary diagnosis of PAH. Patients with a diagnosis of obesity were identified using Elixhauser co-morbidity measure provided in Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, codes and the diagnosis-related groups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare in-hospital mortality between obese and nonobese patients with PAH. Of the 18,450 patients with a primary diagnosis of PAH, 14.7% were obese. Obese patients with PAH were younger, more often women, and more often black compared with nonobese white patients. After risk adjustment for demographics, hospital characteristics, and baseline co-morbidities, obese patients with PAH had lower observed in-hospital mortality compared with nonobese patients with PAH (3.5% vs 8.1%; adjusted odds ratio 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.51 to 0.85, p = 0.001). In conclusion, from a 9-year nationwide cohort of patients with PAH, we observed significantly lower risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality in obese patients compared with nonobese patients

National Trends in the Incidence, Management, and Outcomes of Heart Failure Complications in Patients Hospitalized for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Objective: To analyze contemporary trends in the incidence, management, and clinical outcomes of heart failure (HF) complications in patients hospitalized for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the United States. Patients and Methods: Using the 2003 through 2010 Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases, all patients with STEMI who were 18 years and older with acute HF were identified. Overall trends in the incidence of HF, coronary intervention, and in-hospital mortality were analyzed. Results: Of 1,990,002 hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of STEMI, 471,525 (23.7%) had HF complication (decreasing from 25.4% [95% CI, 25.3%-25.6%] in 2003 to 20.7% [95% CI, 20.5%-20.8%]) in 2010 (P trend<.001). The incidence of cardiogenic shock in patients with HF-complicated STEMI increased from 13.9% (95% CI, 13.6%-14.1%) to 22.6% (95% CI, 22.2%-23.0%) during this period (P trend<.001). From 2003 through 2010, the use of diagnostic coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention increased in patients with HF-complicated STEMI from 44.3% to 62.1% and from 25.0% to 48.1%, respectively. In-hospital mortality decreased significantly in patients with HF-complicated STEMI (from 18.1% to 15.1%) and in subgroups of those with (from 42.4% to 29.9%) and without (from 14.1% to 10.8%) cardiogenic shock (all P trend<.001). The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) (per year) of death was 0.992 (95% CI, 0.988-0.997; P<.001), which changed significantly after additional adjustment for coronary intervention (AOR [per year], 1.012; 95% CI, 1.008-1.017; P<.001). Conclusion: The incidence and in-hospital mortality of HF-complicated STEMI has decreased significantly during recent times along with increased use of percutaneous coronary intervention and diagnostic coronary angiography

Impact of family history of coronary artery disease on in-hospital clinical outcomes in ST-segment myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Patients with a family history of coronary artery disease (FHxCAD) are at increased risk for development of myocardial infarction (MI). However, the data on the influence of FHxCAD on in-hospital clinical outcomes post ST-segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) is limited. Hence, we evaluated the impact of FHxCAD on in-hospital clinical outcomes post STEMI in an unselected nationwide cohort. METHODS: Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database [2003-2011] was used to compare differences in all-cause in-hospital mortality and adverse clinical events (cardiogenic shock, acute cerebrovascular events and use of intra-aortic balloon pump) between patients with and without FHxCAD. RESULTS: A total of 2,123,492 STEMI admissions were identified, of which 7.4% (n=158,079) patients were with FHxCAD and 92.6% (n=1,965,413) were without FHxCAD. The FHxCAD group had lower in-hospital mortality [1.4% CONCLUSIONS: This large sample size study demonstrates that STEMI patients with FHxCAD had lower in-hospital mortality and adverse clinical events in comparison to patients with no-FHxCAD. Further research is warranted to determine whether the superior outcomes in FHxCAD patients with STEMI are related to differences in strategies related to diet, exercise, use of medications or coronary interventions

National Trends in the Incidence, Management, and Outcomes of Heart Failure Complications in Patients Hospitalized for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Objective: To analyze contemporary trends in the incidence, management, and clinical outcomes of heart failure (HF) complications in patients hospitalized for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the United States. Patients and Methods: Using the 2003 through 2010 Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases, all patients with STEMI who were 18 years and older with acute HF were identified. Overall trends in the incidence of HF, coronary intervention, and in-hospital mortality were analyzed. Results: Of 1,990,002 hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of STEMI, 471,525 (23.7%) had HF complication (decreasing from 25.4% [95% CI, 25.3%-25.6%] in 2003 to 20.7% [95% CI, 20.5%-20.8%]) in 2010 ( Conclusion: The incidence and in-hospital mortality of HF-complicated STEMI has decreased significantly during recent times along with increased use of percutaneous coronary intervention and diagnostic coronary angiography

Gender Differences and Predictors of Mortality in Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: Analysis from the National Inpatient Sample 2009-2010 Database.

OBJECTIVES: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is characterized by left-ventricle apical ballooning with elevated cardiac biomarkers and electrocardiographic changes similar to an acute coronary syndrome. We studied the prevalence, in-hospital mortality, and predictors of mortality in TC. METHODS: All patients ≥18 years of age diagnosed with TC were identified in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2009-2010 database using the 9th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 429.83. Demographics, conventional risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and tobacco abuse), acute critical illnesses like sepsis, acute cerebrovascular disease (cerebrovascular accident; CVA), acute respiratory insufficiency, and acute renal failure, and chronic conditions (anxiety, depression, and malignancy) were studied. RESULTS: The prevalence of TC was 0.02% (n = 7,510). The total in-hospital mortality rate was 2.4%, with a higher mortality in men (4.8%) than in women (2.1%). Sepsis (9 vs. 4.2%; p \u3c 0.01) was more prevalent in men with an increased prevalence of other critical illness, although this was not statistically significant. Age (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.01-1.09), malignancy (OR 3.38; 95% CI 1.35-8.41), acute renal failure (OR 5.4; 95% CI 2.2-13.7), acute CVA (OR 9.4; 95% CI 2.96-29.8), and acute respiratory failure (OR 11.1; 95% CI 3.9-31.1) predicted mortality in fully adjusted models. CONCLUSION: A higher mortality was seen in men, likely related to the increased prevalence of acute critical illnesses, ventricular arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac arrest. Acute CVA and respiratory failure were the strongest predictors of mortality. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel

Combined Association of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Body Fatness With Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Older Norwegian Adults: The Generation 100 Study

Objective: To investigate the independent and combined associations of fitness and fatness with cardiometabolic risk factors in older Norwegian women and men. Patients and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 505 women and 417 men aged 70 to 77 years enrolled in the Generation 100 study in Norway. Fitness was assessed as peak oxygen uptake and fatness as high body mass index (BMI; ≥25 kg/m2), waist circumference (WC) of 88 cm or greater for women and 102 cm or greater for men, and percent body fat (%BF) of 35% or greater and 25% or greater for women and men, respectively. High cardiometabolic risk was defined as the presence of 2 or more of the following risk factors: elevated triglyceride level, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, elevated blood pressure, and elevated fasting glucose level or pharmacological treatment of these conditions. Results: Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses identified fitness levels of less than 25.7 and less than 30.7 mL/kg per minute in women and men, respectively, as critical thresholds for having high cardiometabolic risk. Individuals with levels below these thresholds had an adjusted odds ratio of 2.77 (95% CI, 2.09-3.66) for having high cardiometabolic risk, while high BMI, WC, and %BF had odds ratios (95% CIs) of 3.58 (2.69-4.77), 3.06 (2.29-4.10), and 3.26 (2.47-4.30), respectively. In our combined analyses, being lean did not attenuate the cardiometabolic risk associated with low fitness, and combinations of low fitness and/or high BMI, WC, or %BF cumulatively increased cardiometabolic risk. Conclusion: Low fitness and indication of fatness were independently and cumulatively associated with poor cardiometabolic health. Our results emphasize the importance of including both physical fitness and body fatness in the assessment of cardiometabolic risk and health promotion efforts in older adults

Relation of Obesity to Outcomes of Hospitalizations for Atrial Fibrillation.

Obesity has been linked with increased incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF), but impact of presence of obesity on outcomes of hospitalizations for AF has not been investigated. We used the National Inpatient Sample database 2010 to 2014 to identify all adult hospitalizations aged ≥18years with a primary diagnosis of AF. Obese patients were identified using the co-morbidity variable for obesity, as defined in National Inpatient Sample databases. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare in-hospital outcomes (mortality, acute stroke events) between obese and non-obese patients with AF. Of 431, 734 hospitalizations for AF, 66,138 (15.3%) were obese. Obese patients were younger and more likely to be African-Americans compared with non-obese patients. Despite being younger, obese patients had significantly higher prevalence of cardiovascular co-morbidities such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking, heart failure, and chronic renal failure (