Effects Of Obesity On Survival In Patients With Implantable Cardioverter
Defibrillator
Abstract
Background: Studies have shown that increased body weight and obesity
may be associated with an increased risk of arrhythmic events. However,
studies conducted in patients with implantable
cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) have found that low body mass index
(BMI) is associated with higher mortality. The aim of this study is to
evaluate the effect of obesity on the risk of arrhythmic events,
hospitalization and death in patients receiving ICD therapy for primary
or secondary prevention. Methods: The study was designed as a
single-center prospective and observational. Patients with BMI
<30 kg/m2 were classified as non-obese and patients with ≥30
kg/m2 as obese. The primary endpoints were all-cause mortality, cardiac
mortality, and cardiac rehospitalization. Results: Among the total of
340 patients, 78.2% were male, 21.8% were female, and the mean age of
the patients was 60.9 years. Among all patients, there were 30.6%
normal weight, 47.4% overweight and 22.1% obese patients. AF recording
was significantly higher in obese patients compared to the normal weight
patient group (p=0.02). Shock, appropriate shock, and liquid load
sensing were statistically higher in obese than non-obese patients (p =
0.042, p=0.011 and p=0.007). In the primary prevention group, all-cause
mortality and cardiac mortality rates were lower in the obesity group
(p=0.022, p=0.037). Conclusion: Our findings showed that although
cardiac arrhythmic events are more common in obese patients, mortality
and hospitalization events are less common in obese patients. These
findings are consistent with the reverse epidemiology that has been
demonstrated previously between obesity and mortality.