BERWYN, PA, June 03, 2009
/24-7PressRelease/ -- It is well known that being overweight or obese leads to many health complications, particularly cardiovascular disease and risk factors associated with it. In a new study led by Dr. Carl Lavie, medical director of cardiac rehabilitation and prevention at the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, a group of doctors investigated the effect of the "obesity paradox" on mortality rates in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease.
The article, "Disparate Effects of Obesity and Left Ventricular Geometry on Mortality in 8088 Elderly Patients with Preserved Systolic Function," published May 20, 2009 in Postgraduate Medicine, examines the "obesity paradox" and the puzzling relationship between obesity and abnormal left ventricular geometry.
The retrospective investigation evaluated data from 8088 elderly patients referred to hospitals for echocardiography. After separating these patients into three groups based on their body mass index, the doctors analyzed left ventricle geometric patterns and the mortality rates for each group.
The study shows that while there was a higher presence of left ventricle abnormalities present in elderly obese patients, there was a noticeable decrease in mortality. According to the report, the mortality rates for patients with cardiovascular disease that were of average weight were higher than those for obese patients.
In an elderly population, the extra nutritional reserves in obese patients may be a reason for their lower mortality rate. Although an obesity paradox exists, Dr. Lavie's findings demonstrate that left ventricular geometric abnormalities are prevalent in elderly patients with preserved systolic function and are associated with progressive increases in mortality. While it appears as though those who are overweight stand a better chance of surviving cardiovascular disease, they also open themselves up to a wide range of additional health problems.
The full article content can be accessed on Postgraduate Medicine's website at http://www.postgradmed.com. Postgraduate Medicine's editor-in-chief, Howard Miller, MD, can be contacted at editorinchief@postgradmed.com.
About Postgraduate Medicine
Postgraduate Medicine is a peer-reviewed medical journal which provides primary care physicians with a peer-to-peer method of communicating the latest research to aid them when making treatment decisions. For further information, please contact us at 610-889-3733 or go to our website at http://www.postgradmed.com.
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