title: The "obesity paradox" in Nigerians with heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have suggested that a high body mass index (BMI) was associated with improved outcome in congestive heart failure (CHF). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between BMI and echocardiographic variables of cardiac function in stable outpatients with heart failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study in which the cardiology clinic out-patients of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital with heart failure were recruited. Patients were categorized using baseline BMI as normal weight BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2) and overweight/obese (BMI > 25.0 kg/m(2)). Risks associated with BMI groups were evaluated and the data were analyzed with the aid of SPSS 15.0 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with higher BMI have higher left ventricular ejection fraction and fractional shortening and lesser tendency to have an abnormal left ventricular geometry and better functional (New York Heart Association) class of heart failure at presentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overweight and obese patients had less severe degree of heart failure than normal weight patients and efforts should be made to prevent excessive weight loss in patients with heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adebayo T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Oyedeji
authors.forename: Michael O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Balogun
authors.forename: Anthony O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Akintomide
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Sunmonu
authors.forename: Rasaaq A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Adebayo
authors.forename: Olufemi E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Ajayi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D010045:Outpatients; D012307:Risk Factors; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000209:etiology