From the BMI Paradox to the Obesity Paradox: the Obesity-Mortality Association in Coronary Heart Disease
Despite a strong association between body weight and mortality in the general population, clinical evidence suggests better clinical outcome of overweight or obese individuals with established coronary heart disease. This finding has been termed the ‘obesity paradox’, but its existence remains a point of debate, because it is mostly observed when body mass index (BMI) is used to define obesity.
Inherent limitations of BMI as an index of adiposity, as well as methodological biases and the presence of confounding factors, may account for the observed findings of clinical studies. In this review, our aim is to present the data that support the presence of a BMI paradox in coronary heart disease and then explore whether next to a BMI paradox a true obesity paradox exists as well.
We conclude by attempting to link the obesity paradox notion to available translational research data supporting a ‘healthy’, protective adipose tissue phenotype.
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October 2023
Perivascular adipose tissue as a source of therapeutic targets and clinical biomarkers: A clinical consensus statement from the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Coronary Pathophysiology and Micro-circulation
This clinical consensus statement from the European Society of Cardiology defines perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) and highlights the biological mechanisms…
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October 2023
SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers pro-atherogenic inflammatory responses in human coronary vessels
Abstract: Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) present increased risk for ischemic cardiovascular complications up to 1 year after infection. Although…