title: Overweight and obesity: a major challenge for coronary heart disease secondary prevention in clinical practice in Europe.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the management of overweight and obesity in coronary artery disease patients in Europe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The EUROASPIRE Study is a multicentre epidemiological study involving nine European countries. The major cardiovascular risk factors and their management were collected from hospital records and measured at least 6 months after hospitalization during a specific interview. A total of 4863 consecutive records from men and women with coronary artery disease, under 71 years of age, were reviewed. Interviews were obtained for 3569 (73%). Body mass index was computed from height and weight noted in the medical records and measured at interview. Management of overweight and obesity was recorded at interview. At least 6 months after hospitalization, 75% of women and 80% of men were overweight and 33% of women and 23% of men were obese. Height noted in medical records was over-estimated, inducing an under-estimation of obesity in 16% of men and 33% of women. Advice from a nutritionist was offered in less than 20% of obese patients. The same trends were observed in all participating countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalences of overweight and obesity are high in coronary artery disease patients in Europe. A systematic measurement of height and weight is a prerequisite to a better management of this common modifiable risk factor.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U 508, Institut Pasteur de Lille, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montaye
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Bacquer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Backer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amouyel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors