Adult obesity and number of years lived with and without cardiovascular disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the differences in number of years lived free of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and number of years lived with CVD between men and women who were obese, pre-obese, or normal weight at 45 years of age.


METHODS
We constructed multistate life tables for CVD, myocardial infarction, and stroke, using data from 2551 enrollees (1130 men) in the Framingham Heart Study who were 45 years of age.


RESULTS
Obesity and pre-obesity were associated with fewer number of years free of CVD, myocardial infarction, and stroke and an increase in the number of years lived with these diseases. Forty-five-year-old obese men with no CVD survived 6.0 years [95% confidence interval (CI), 4.1; 8.1] fewer than their normal weight counterparts, whereas, for women, the difference between obese and normal weight subjects was 8.4 years (95% CI: 6.2; 10.8). Obese men and women lived with CVD 2.7 (95% CI: 1.0; 4.4) and 1.4 years (95% CI: -0.3; 3.2) longer, respectively, than normal weight individuals.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to reducing life expectancy, obesity before middle age is associated with a reduction in the number of years lived free of CVD and an increase in the number of years lived with CVD. Such information is paramount for preventive and therapeutic decision-making by individuals and practitioners alike.
Pardo Silva
M Carolina
MC
Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
De Laet
Chris
C
Nusselder
Wilma J
WJ
Mamun
Abdulah A
AA
Peeters
Anna
A
D000375:Aging; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D050177:Overweight / Q000502:physiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors