Does abdominal obesity have a similar impact on cardiovascular disease and diabetes? A study of 91,246 ambulant patients in 27 European countries.
OBJECTIVE
Differences in cardiovascular risk factors across Europe provide an opportunity to examine the impact of adiposity on the frequency of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD).


RESULTS
The International Day for Evaluation of Abdominal obesity (IDEA) study evaluated the prevalence of abdominal obesity, elevated body mass index (BMI), and other cardiometabolic risk factors among primary care patients. Abdominal obesity predicted increased diabetes risk, despite socio-economic, demographic, and risk factor differences. Cardiovascular disease was at least two-fold more frequent in Eastern Europe vs. Northwest Europe (P < 0.0001) and 2.5-fold more vs. Southern Europe (P < 0.0001). Waist circumference (WC) predicted increased (P < 0.0001) age- and BMI-adjusted risks of CVD and diabetes. In women, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for CVD per 1 SD increase in WC were: Northwest Europe 1.28 (1.18-1.40); Southern Europe 1.26 (1.16-1.37); and Eastern Europe 1.10 (1.03-1.18). Values for diabetes were 1.72 (1.58-1.88), 1.45 (1.35-1.56), and 1.59 (1.46-1.73), with similar findings in men.


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal obesity impacted similarly on the frequency of diabetes across Europe, despite regional differences in cardiovascular risk factors and CVD rates. Increasing abdominal obesity may offset future declines in CVD, even where CVD rates are lower.
Department of Cardiovascular Research, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK. k.a.a.fox@ed.ac.uk
Keith A A
KA
Fox
Jean-Pierre
JP
Després
Alain-Jean
AJ
Richard
Sandrine
S
Brette
John E
JE
Deanfield
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult