What is the effect of BMI on mortality rates in patients with advanced heart failure?
A meta-analysis of 9 observational studies of BMI and outcomes in heart failure (HF) revealed that overweight (BMI, 25.0 - 29.9 kg/m2) was associated with a reduced relative risk of cardiovascular mortality of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.72 - 0.92). Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) was associated with an even lower risk. The protective effect of obesity was also noted in patients with acute decompensated HF; patients in the highest quartile of BMI had the lowest risk of in-hospital mortality in the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry. A study of community HF clinic patients in the United Kingdom found that the larger the patient's size was, the lower the risk of mortality was.