Obesity causally increases risk of both heart failure incidence and mortality

Key Findings of the study Were:

• Upon observational analyses in the Copenhagen studies with 10 years of median follow-up, the researchers found that the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios per 1 kg/m2 increment of BMI were

♦1.06 (n=124,528; events=6,589) for heart failure incidence,

♦1.04 (n=124,528; events=1,237) for heart failure mortality, and

♦1.01 (n=124,528; events=24,144) for all-cause mortality.

• Upon genetic analyses in the Copenhagen studies, they noted that the age and sex adjusted causal risk ratios per 1 kg/m2 increment of BMI were

♦1.19 (n=118,200; events=6,541) for heart failure incidence,

♦1.27 (n=118,200; events=889) for heart failure mortality, and

♦1.11 (n=118,200; events=16,814) for all-cause mortality.

• Combining genetic data from the Copenhagen studies, the Genetic Investigation of ANthropometric Traits (GIANT), the Heart Failure Molecular Epidemiology for Therapeutic Targets (HERMES), and the UK Biobank, they observed that unadjusted causal risk ratios per 1 kg/m2 increment of BMI were

♦1.39 (n=1,095,523; events=53,850) for heart failure incidence,

♦1.18 (n=576,853; events=2,373) for heart failure mortality, and

♦1.02 (n=576,853; events=44,734) for all-cause mortality.

The authors concluded, "High body mass index causally increases the risk of both heart failure incidence and mortality. Obesity should be recognised as a causal factor for development of heart failure, heart failure mortality, and all-cause mortality in treatment guidelines."

For further information:

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/circ.144.suppl_1.12326