BMI is not independently associated with coronary artery calcification in a large single-center CT cohort

Sibel Altintas*, Samanta van Workum, Madeleine Kok, Ivo A. P. G. Joosen, Mathijs O. Versteylen, Patricia J. Nelemans, Joachim E. Wildberger, Harry J. G. M. Crijns, Marco Das, Bas L. J. H. Kietselaer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective: Obesity is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD mortality. However, previous reports showed a paradoxical protective effect in patients with known CVD referred as "obesity paradox". Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association of body mass index (BMI) with coronary artery calcification (CAC) in a large outpatient cardiac CT cohort.

Methods: 4.079 patients who underwent cardiac CT between December 2007-May 2014 were analyzed. BMI and clinical risk factors (current smoking, diabetes mellitus type 2, family history, systolic blood pressure, lipid spectrum) were assessed. Missing values were imputed using multiple imputation. CAC extent was categorized as absent (0), mild (>0-100), moderate (>100-400) and severe (>400).

Results: Multivariable multinomial logistic regression analysis, including all risk factors as independent variables, showed no association between BMI and CAC. Using absence of calcification as reference category, the odds ratios per unit increase in BMI were 1.01 for mild; 1.02 for moderate; and 1.00 for severe CAC (p-values >= 0.103).

Conclusions: No statistically significant association was observed between BMI and CAC after adjustment for other risk factors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)172-178
Number of pages7
JournalObesity science & practice
Volume9
Issue number2
Early online date7 Sept 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2023

Keywords

  • cardiovascular disease
  • computed tomography
  • coronary artery disease (CAD)
  • obesity
  • INDEX EVENT BIAS
  • BODY-MASS INDEX
  • CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE
  • ABDOMINAL OBESITY
  • RISK-FACTORS
  • CALCIUM
  • ATHEROSCLEROSIS
  • MORPHOLOGY
  • OVERWEIGHT
  • JAPANESE

Cite this