title: Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease: a Risk Factor or a Risk Marker?
abstract: In the USA, 69 % of adults are either overweight or obese and 35 % are obese. Obesity is associated with an increased incidence of various cardiovascular disorders. Obesity is a risk marker for cardiovascular disease, in that it is associated with a much higher prevalence of comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome, which then increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. However, in addition, obesity may also be an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, although obesity has been shown to be an independent risk factor for several cardiovascular diseases, it is often associated with improved survival once the diagnosis of the cardiovascular disease has been made, leading to the term "obesity paradox." Several pathways linking obesity and cardiovascular disease have been described. In this review, we attempt to summarize the complex relationship between obesity and cardiovascular disorders, in particular coronary atherosclerosis, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Taher
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mandviwala
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Umair
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. adeswal@bcm.edu.|Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, (111B) 2002 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. adeswal@bcm.edu.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deswal
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; Coronary artery disease; Heart failure; Hypertension; Obesity