Waist size is a sign of heart failure

There is growing evidence that waist size has an important relationship with heart failure. A study conducted by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) scientists found that for middle-aged or older people, the greater the waist circumference, the higher the risk of heart failure.

This finding, published live in Circulation: Heart Failure, April 7, shows that increased waist size is a sign of heart failure, even when body weight and height are measured. (BMI) is within the normal range.

"Currently, 66 percent of adults in the United States are overweight or obese ," said Emily Levitan, the lead author of the study, BIDMC Cardiovascular Research Unit . The rate of heart failure is high in the period from 1989 and 1999, so we want to find out if obesity is the factor that causes this condition. '

Heart failure, a life-threatening condition that occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to the body, is often caused by a number of heart-related problems, including high blood pressure and coronary artery disease . Heart failure is the highest cause of hospitalization in patients 65 years and older, and is often accompanied by symptoms of fatigue, difficulty walking, fast and unstable heartbeats, and coughing or wheezing.

The researchers looked at two studies in Sweden, a study involving 36,873 women aged 48 to 83, the remaining study comprising 43,487 men aged 45 to 79 years. Answer a questionnaire about weight, height and waist circumference information. During a seven-year period between January 1998 and December 2004, researchers reported 382 cases of heart failure for the first time in women (357 hospitalizations and 25 deaths), and 718 cases of heart failure. first time in men (679 hospitalizations and 39 deaths).

Scientists found that for middle-aged or older people, the bigger the waist, the higher the risk of heart failure. (Photo: iStockphoto / Linda & Colin McKie)

Their analysis found that, based on responses provided by participants, 34% were overweight and 11% obese, while 46% were overweight and 10% obese. Levitan explains: 'By any measure - BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio - our findings suggest that body weight is positively associated with risk. heart failure'.

A more detailed analysis showed that women with a BMI of 25 (within the normal limit), a 10-centimeter waist increase, a 15% increase in heart failure rate; Women with a BMI of 30 had an 18% increase in heart failure. In men with BMI 25, waist circumference increased by 10 centimeters, the risk of heart failure increased by 16%, this rate increased to 18% when the BMI was 30.

In addition, for men, every BMI increases, the risk of heart failure increases by 4%, regardless of the size of the waist. For women, the risk of heart failure involves only waist size. Finally, the authors found that the link between BMI and heart failure decreased with age, meaning that the younger the effect, the greater the impact of weight on the heart.

Levitan said: 'The study emphasizes the importance of keeping the body a moderate weight. Previous research has explored many types of heart disease and related health problems, and the results are very consistent, suggesting that excess body weight increases the risk of heart failure '.

Co-authors include researcher Murray A. Mittlema, of BIDMC, Amy Z. Yang, BA and Alicja Wok, DrMedSci.

The research was funded by the National Medical Institute, the Swedish Research Council and the Swedish International Cooperation Research Fund.