What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Population: stable coronary heart disease (n=570). Intervention: Low lean mass index (LMI) and low body fat (BF) vs. High LMI and high BF. Primary outcome: Mortality (HR 3.1, 95% CI 1.3 to 7.1, p=<0.0001).

What does this research mean for the field?

In patients with stable coronary heart disease, low lean mass index and low body fat independently predict increased mortality, with the highest mortality occurring in those with both low lean mass and low body fat. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the prospective association between body composition metrics—specifically fat mass and lean mass—and mortality outcomes in individuals with stable coronary heart disease.

September 25, 2026Journal of the American College of CardiologyOpen Access

Body Composition and Survival in Stable Coronary Heart Disease

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Low lean mass index and low body fat predicted higher mortality in stable CHD patients, with the highest mortality in the low LMI/low BF group (15%) versus the high LMI/high BF group (2.2%).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

In patients with stable coronary heart disease, low lean mass index and low body fat independently predict increased mortality, with the highest mortality occurring in those with both low lean mass and low body fat. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the prospective association between body composition metrics—specifically fat mass and lean mass—and mortality outcomes in individuals with stable coronary heart disease.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Key result

Low LMI and low body fat predict ~210% higher mortality in stable CHD patients.

HR 3.1
95% CI 1.3 to 7.1
P<0.0001
n=570

Why the study?

The obesity paradox in CHD may be explained by limitations of BMI in defining body composition, necessitating study of lean mass index and body fat impact on survival.

Key Points

To evaluate the prospective association between body composition metrics—specifically fat mass and lean mass—and mortality outcomes in individuals with stable coronary heart disease.
Prospective cohort analysis assessing body composition measures, including fat mass index, lean mass index, and body mass index, in patients with established stable coronary heart disease.
Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the independent prognostic impact of adiposity and muscle mass on long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.
Greater lean mass was significantly and independently associated with lower all-cause mortality risk across all categories of body mass index.
High body fat in conjunction with low muscle mass was associated with the highest risk of mortality, underscoring the detrimental prognostic effect of sarcopenic obesity.

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=570)

PICO

Population

570 consecutive patients with stable coronary heart disease referred to cardiac rehabilitation, followed for 3 years.

Exposure / Comparator

Low lean mass index (LMI) and low body fat (BF) vs High LMI and high BF

Primary Outcome

Mortality — HR 3.1 (1.3 to 7.1), p=<0.0001

Main Result

Hazard Ratio: 3.1 (95% CI 1.3–7.1)

Absolute Event Rate: 15% vs 2.2%

p-value: p=<0.0001

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Implication

Cohort study reveals higher lean mass improves survival in stable coronary heart disease, indicating muscle preservation is critical.

Cite This Study

Lavie et al. (2012) conducted a cohort in stable coronary heart disease (n=570). Low lean mass index (LMI) and low body fat (BF) vs. High LMI and high BF was evaluated on Mortality (HR 3.1, 95% CI 1.3 to 7.1, p=<0.0001). Low lean mass index and low body fat predicted higher mortality in stable CHD patients, with the highest mortality in the low LMI/low BF group (15%) versus the high LMI/high BF group (2.2%).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6ab5e772dc1ab886c8b03622 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2012.05.037

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Body Composition and Survival in Stable Coronary Heart Disease

Key Points

Study Design

PICO

Main Result

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Body Composition and Survival in Stable Coronary Heart Disease

Key Points

Study Design

PICO

Main Result

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider