Elevated BMI increased heart failure risk by 11% per 1-kg/m2 (95% CI 9-13), while vigorous physical activity lowered risk; obese inactive men had the highest risk (HR 3.93; 95% CI 2.60-5.96).
Cohort (n=21,094)
Does elevated BMI and vigorous physical activity affect the incidence of heart failure in men without known coronary heart disease?
Elevated BMI, even in the preobese range, increases the risk of heart failure, whereas vigorous physical activity decreases this risk in men.
Effect estimate: 11% increase per 1-kg/m2 (95% CI 9-13)
BACKGROUND: Elevated body mass index (BMI; weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) in the obese range (> or =30 kg/m(2)) is associated with an excess risk of heart failure (HF). However, the impact of overweight or preobese (BMI, 25 to 29.9 kg/m(2)) status and physical activity on HF risk is unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a prospective cohort of 21,094 men (mean age, 53 years) without known coronary heart disease at baseline in the Physicians' Health Study, we examined the individual and combined effects of BMI and vigorous physical activity (exercise to the point of breaking a sweat) on HF incidence from 1982 to 2007. We evaluated BMI as both a continuous (per 1-kg/m(2) increment) and a categorical (lean, or =30 kg/m(2)) variable; we evaluated vigorous physical activity primarily as a dichotomous variable (inactive rarely/never versus active > or =1 to 3 times a month). During follow-up (mean, 20.5 years), 1109 participants developed new-onset HF. In multivariable analyses, every 1-kg/m(2) increase in BMI was associated with an 11% (95% confidence interval CI, 9 to 13) increase in HF risk. Compared with lean participants, overweight participants had a 49% (95% CI, 32 to 69) and obese participants had a 180% (95% CI, 124 to 250) increase in HF risk. Vigorous physical activity conferred an 18% (95% CI, 4 to 30) decrease in HF risk. No interaction was found between BMI and vigorous physical activity and HF risk (P=0.96). Lean active men had the lowest and obese inactive men had the highest risk of HF. Compared with lean active men, the hazard ratios were 1.19 (95% CI, 0.94 to 1.51), 1.49 (95% CI, 1.30 to 1.71), 1.78 (95% CI, 1.43 to 2.23), 2.68 (95% CI, 2.08 to 3.45), and 3.93 (95% CI, 2.60 to 5.96) in lean inactive, overweight active, overweight inactive, obese active, and obese inactive men, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of men, elevated BMI, even in the preobese range, was associated with an increased risk of HF, and vigorous physical activity was associated with a decreased risk. Public health measures to curtail excess weight, to maintain optimal weight, and to promote physical activity may limit the scourge of HF.
Kenchaiah et al. (2008) conducted a cohort in Heart failure (n=21,094). Body Mass Index and vigorous physical activity vs. Lean active men was evaluated on Heart failure incidence (11% increase per 1-kg/m2, 95% CI 9-13). Elevated BMI increased heart failure risk by 11% per 1-kg/m2 (95% CI 9-13), while vigorous physical activity lowered risk; obese inactive men had the highest risk (HR 3.93; 95% CI 2.60-5.96).