Article

Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are both predictors of
cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We compared absolute risk, hazard ratio (HR), and
population attributable risk of nonfatal and fatal CVD for BMI and WC in a large
prospective cohort study with an average follow-up of 10 years. METHODS AND
RESULTS: Anthropometric data were measured between 1993 and 1997 in a general
population sample of over 20,000 men and women aged 20-65 years in the
Netherlands. All risks were adjusted for age and sex. Absolute risk of nonfatal
CVD was on average 10 times higher than that of fatal CVD. In obese respondents
(BMI >or=30 kg/m2), relative risk of fatal CVD was four-fold higher [HR=4.0 95%
confidence interval (CI)=2.4-6.6], whereas risk of nonfatal CVD was two-fold
higher (HR=1.8 95% CI=1.6-2.2) than in normal-weight respondents. Similar
associations were observed for WC (>or=88 vs. <80 cm in women and >or=102 vs. 94
cm in men). In persons with overweight or obesity (BMI >or=25 kg/m2), half of all
fatal CVD (attributable risk=54%, 95% CI=30-70) and a quarter of nonfatal CVD was
ascribed to their overweight. On the population level, one-third of all fatal CVD
cases could be attributed to overweight and obesity (population attributable
risk=35%, 95% CI=14-52), and about one in seven of nonfatal CVD cases.
CONCLUSION: The associations of BMI and WC with CVD risk were equally strong.
Overweight and obesity had a stronger impact on fatal CVD than on nonfatal CVD.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Tiré à part : OUI