title: Profiles of obesity, weight gain, and quality of life in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity and weight gain are known risk factors for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH; or pseudotumor cerebri). The authors examined profiles of body mass index (BMI) and patterns of weight gain associated with IIH. They also examined vision-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in newly diagnosed IIH patients and explored the relative contribution of obesity and weight gain to overall HRQOL in this disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Matched case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female patients with newly diagnosed IIH (n = 34) and other neuro-ophthalmologic disorders (n = 41) were enrolled in a case-control study to assess patterns of self-reported weight gain. The HRQOL was examined using the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) and the SF-36 Health Survey (Physical Components Summary and Mental Components Summary [MCS]).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher BMIs were associated with greater risk of IIH (P = .003, logistic regression analysis adjusting for case-control matching), as were higher percentages of weight gain during the year before symptom onset (P = .004). Moderate weight gain (5% to 15%) was associated with a greater risk of IIH among both obese and nonobese patients. Obesity and weight gain influenced the relation between HRQOL and IIH only for subscale scores reflecting mental health (SF-36 MCS). The NEI-VFQ-25 and SF-36 subscale scores were lower in IIH compared with other neuro-ophthalmologic disorders and published norms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher levels of weight gain and BMI are associated with greater risk of IIH. Even nonobese patients (BMI <30) are at greater risk for IIH in the setting of moderate weight gain. Vision-specific and overall HRQOL are affected to a greater extent in IIH than in other neuro-ophthalmologic disorders.
authors: Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors: Anthony B
authors: AB
authors: Daniels
authors: Grant T
authors: GT
authors: Liu
authors: Nicholas J
authors: NJ
authors: Volpe
authors: Steven L
authors: SL
authors: Galetta
authors: Mark L
authors: ML
authors: Moster
authors: Nancy J
authors: NJ
authors: Newman
authors: Valerie
authors: V
authors: Biousse
authors: Andrew G
authors: AG
authors: Lee
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Wall
authors: Randy
authors: R
authors: Kardon
authors: Marie D
authors: MD
authors: Acierno
authors: James J
authors: JJ
authors: Corbett
authors: Maureen G
authors: MG
authors: Maguire
authors: Laura J
authors: LJ
authors: Balcer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015170:Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011559:Pseudotumor Cerebri / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain