In a data packed panel, Dr. Steven Nissen showed how the consequences of not catching up to the obesity and diabetes epidemic are compromising the control over heart issues in the US. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, in which Nissen contributed, since 2011, the death rates for heart and cardiovascular disease are stagnant and showing a tendency to climb again, even with modern pharmaceuticals and treatments, especially among Hispanic and non-Hispanic black men and women.
As shown by Dr. Nissen, obesity is a major contributor as a risk factor for coronary heart disease between men and women with BMIs higher than 40 and could shorten life expectancy by 9 years for males and 7,7 years for females and make them more prone to diverse CV events like heart failure and strokes.
Even obese patients considered metabolically healthy by todays standards are not risk free, as the extra weight they carry can be a decisive factor in their CV outcomes.
Dr Nissen states that, at least for the cardiovascular scenario, physicians have to be aware that abdominal adiposity could be more accurate to assess a patient's risk then the BMI and that the weight loss of just 4kg can significantly reduce the cardiovascular risk factors for these patients.
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