Waist Size and BMI Predict Heart Failure in Men and Women
By Richard Shank
A study at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) has found that larger waist circumference and BMI measurements are associated with an increased risk of heart failure in middle- and older-age groups of men and women.
Currently, about 66% of the adult population in the U.S. is overweight or obese. The prevalence of heart failure increased between 1989 and 1999, presumably corresponding to an increase in obesity.
The researchers set out to understand the extent that obesity was contributing to the rise in heart failure, a life-threatening condition that develops when the heart can no longer pump enough blood to keep up with the demands of the body. It is most often caused by some other existing cardiac or cardiovascular condition including high blood pressure and coronary heart disease.
The researchers examined data from two studies of Swedish citizens, including 40,000 men and 36,000 women. During the period between January 1999 and December 2004, they found 383 first-time heart failure events among women and 718 first-time events among men. Their analysis found that, based on answers provided by study participants, BMI and waist size were significantly associated with heart failure.
In fact, among men, each unit increase in BMI was associated with a 4% higher heart failure rate, no matter their waist size. However, for women, increased heart failure rates were only related to a larger waist size.
Source: Mittleman, M., Yan, A., Wok, A. (Forthcoming). Circulation: Heart Failure 2(3). April 2009.
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