Obesity does not protect against subarachnoid haemorrhage

"Smoking is much more common among underweight and normal-weight people than overweight and obese people. Neglecting to take smoking habits into account produces a false observation of subarachnoid haemorrhage occurring less often in obese people, since smoking is less common among them than others," explains Rautalin, MD, from the University of Helsinki.

A study based on a dataset of over 200,000 people

A research dataset containing follow-up data for more than 200,000 individuals collected over almost 50 years was utilised in the study. Miikka Korja, docent of neurosurgery and the principal investigator of the study, emphasises the significance of extensive and high-quality research datasets.

"This collaborative Nordic study serves, once again, as an excellent illustration of why studies on the risk factors associated with cerebral haemorrhage should be based on large and high-quality research datasets. Risk factors related to lifestyle are rarely independent of one another, which makes it challenging to investigate their interconnections. It's easy to draw incorrect conclusions on the independent effects of individual risk factors," notes Korja, head of section at the Department of Neurosurgery of the Helsinki University Hospital.

In conclusion, Rautalin and Korja emphasise that while the effect of obesity itself appears to be minor in connection with subarachnoid haemorrhage, many other adverse health effects caused by obesity should be taken into consideration. Therefore, the researchers recommend that the goal should continue to be to achieve and maintain normal weight, refrain from smoking as well as effectively prevent and treat hypertension.