Obesity is one of the leading causes of non-specific mortality across the world. One of the complications of obesity or adiposity is complications in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition in which a portion of the heart becomes thickened. This study aims to assess the association of obesity (BMI scores) with the adverse outcomes in patients with HCM.
This is a retrospective cohort study that included a total of 3,282 (2019 male, mean age 47 years) participants with confirmed HCM. The participants were divided into three groups according to BMI class (normal :< 25, pre-obesity: 25-30, and obesity: > 30). The primary outcome of the study was severe cardiovascular events, including heart failure outcome, ventricular arrhythmic outcome, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality.
Out of 3,383 patients, 962 (31.7%) were in the normal weight group, 1,280 (39.0%) were in the pre-obesity group, and 1,040 (31.7%) in the obesity group. Patients in the obesity group were more symptomatic and had obstructive physiology. Overall, obesity was associated with increased HCM-related overall composite outcome and heart failure composite outcome. Obesity also increased the risk of arterial fibrillation, but it was not linked with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
The research concluded that obesity is prevalent in HCM patients and increases the risk of obstructive physiology and adverse outcomes.
Ref: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/article-abstract/2753537?resultClick=1
