Key result
High BMI, but not waist-hip ratio, is linked to increased breathlessness during exercise testing.
Why the study?
The impact of obesity defined by BMI or waist-hip ratio on perceived exercise limiting symptoms during treadmill testing in cardiac patients was unclear.
Does generalized obesity defined by BMI increase perceived breathlessness during treadmill exercise testing in cardiac patients?
Population
188 cardiac patients attending diagnostic Bruce treadmill tests
Comparison
Obesity defined by BMI vs overweight and normal weight; obesity defined by WHR
Design
Prospective observational study
Authors
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Generalized obesity by BMI was associated with higher perceived symptoms on treadmill testing; leaves open whether this influences prognosis or warrants targeted intervention in cardiac patients.
Observational (n=188)
Does generalized obesity defined by BMI increase perceived breathlessness during treadmill exercise testing in cardiac patients?
p-value: p=0.034, 0.003, 0.042
Generalized obesity (high BMI), but not central obesity (high WHR), is associated with increased perceived breathlessness during standard treadmill exercise testing in cardiac patients.
Goyal et al. (2009) conducted an observational in Cardiac patients (n=188). Generalized obesity (BMI >30 kg/m2) vs. Overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m2) and normal weight (BMI <25 kg/m2) was evaluated on Perceived breathlessness score on a visual analog scale at the end of stages 1, 2, and 3 of the Bruce protocol (p=0.034, 0.003, 0.042). Generalized obesity defined by high BMI, but not by waist-hip ratio, is associated with increased perceived breathlessness during standard exercise testing (P=0.034, 0.003, and 0.042 for stages 1-3).