Waist size correlated with heart disease found in old women
Weight has been associated with the increased risk of heart disease. What matters the most is the location of the fat build up in our body, according to the new study that is published in The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) recently.
Coronary artery disease is one type of the heart disease known as the leading cause of death in the world. Obesity is one of the risk factor proved to increase the progression of coronary artery disease. Whether overall obesity or central obesity impacts more to the outcome of coronary artery disease in postmenopausal women has not been fully determined.
To address the issue, close to 700 Korean women older than 55 years old with chest pain were evaluated in the study. The study aimed to compare the baseline characteristics of those women (311 of subjects) who have coronary artery disease to those without.
The prevalence of coronary artery disease was not correlated to overall obesity by comparing the subjects with or without overall obesity. However, researchers found that the prevalence of coronary artery disease was higher in subjects with abdominal obesity than those without. The prevalence risk of coronary artery disease in subjects with abdominal obesity was 55% versus 41% of prevalence risk in subjects who do not have abdominal obesity.
The waist size was also higher in subjects who have coronary artery disease compared to whom without coronary artery disease. The waist size in subjects who with or without coronary artery disease is 84.7 cm, 82.4 cm respectively.
Study recruited women older than 55 who usually underwent postmenopausal stage in their life. Postmenopausal stage is defined as the time range of 12 months after women stop having their period. At this stage, the declined level of estrogen associated with body fat distribution shift from the hip area to belly area.
The researchers explained the fat build up within the abdominal cavity is the major site for cytokine production, lead to the accumulation of the plaque inside the artery thereby potentially increasing the risk of having coronary artery disease.
For more information please visit The North American Menopause Society.
Questions: Are you familiar with body shapes? Would that system be helpful to you in discussing abdominal obesity with others?
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