Duration of Overall and Abdominal Obesity Linked to Coronary Calcification

In a long-term study in young adults, risks for new and worsening subclinical coronary artery disease increased by 2%–4% per additional year of obesity.

The obesity epidemic is rampant, particularly in children and young adults. However, the consequences of long-term obesity are largely unknown. To find out more, investigators used data from the CARDIA study on 3275 young adults (aged 18–30; 51% women; 46% black) who were nonobese at baseline in 1985–1986 and were examined for the presence and degree of coronary artery calcification (CAC) at least once at years 15, 20, and 25.

At 25 years, 40.4% of participants had developed overall obesity (mean age of onset, 35.4), and 41.0% had developed abdominal obesity (mean age of onset, 37.7). Mean duration of obesity was 13 and 12 years for overall and abdominal obesity, respectively. CAC was present in 27.5% of all participants; in 38.2% of those w…

Reviewing Author

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

Duration of Overall and Abdominal Obesity Linked to Coronary Calcification

Topics

Reviewing Author