Study finds depressing link between weight and premature death

Overweight adults with high blood pressure are a third more likely to die prematurely, a new study has found. It is estimated that up to 31% of the world’s population suffers from metabolic syndrome due to three or more unhealthy factors.

Research shows that millions of overweight middle-aged adults with even mildly elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, or glucose levels are about a third more likely to die early.

According to The Guardian, such people also face a 35% higher risk of heart attacks or strokes and will experience them two years earlier than their peers. The startling results were presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology, the world’s largest conference on cardiology. They represent further evidence of the immediate danger posed by the global obesity crisis.

It is estimated that up to 31% of the world’s population suffers from metabolic syndrome, although many are unaware of this and remain undiagnosed.

Metabolic syndrome is the medical term for having three or more unhealthy traits, including being very overweight or having too much fat around the waist, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol or glucose levels.

“Many people in their 40s and 50s have a small amount of fat around the waist and slightly elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, or glucose levels, but generally feel well, are unaware of the risks, and do not seek medical attention,” says the author. research Dr. Lena Lennberg from the Westmanland County Hospital in Västerås (Sweden).

“This scenario, called the metabolic syndrome, is a growing problem in the Western population, where people unknowingly accumulate problems for later in life. This is a huge missed opportunity to intervene before avoidable heart attacks and strokes occur,” notes Dr. Lennberg.

Previous research has shown that people with metabolic syndrome are at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and premature death. This study examined the association between asymptomatic metabolic syndrome in middle age and cardiovascular disease and death up to three decades later.

The study involved 34,269 adults aged 40 to 50 who were enrolled in a cardiovascular disease screening program between 1990 and 1999 in the Swedish county of Westmanland. Participants went to their primary care center for a clinical examination by a nurse, which included measurements of height, weight, blood pressure, total cholesterol, blood glucose, and waist and hip circumference.

Participants also completed a questionnaire about lifestyle habits, prior history of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and socioeconomic factors such as education.

People were classified as having metabolic syndrome if they had three or more of the following: a waist circumference of 102 cm or more for men and 88 cm or more for women, a total cholesterol level of 6.1 mmol/L (millimoles per liter of blood), or above, 130 mm Hg. (millimeters of mercury) or higher systolic blood pressure and/or 85 mm Hg. or higher diastolic blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose of 5.6 mmol/L or higher.

The researchers analyzed associations between midlife metabolic syndrome and non-fatal cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality after adjusting for age, sex, smoking, physical inactivity, education level, body mass index, hip circumference, and living alone or with family.

A total of 5,084 people met the criteria for metabolic syndrome, and a control group of 10,168 people without metabolic syndrome was identified; 47% of participants were women.

During the 27-year follow-up period, 1317 (26%) participants with metabolic syndrome died compared to 1904 (19%) in the control group – meaning that patients with metabolic syndrome were 30% more likely to die during follow-up than their colleagues without metabolic syndrome.

Non-fatal heart attacks or strokes occurred in 1645 (32%) participants with metabolic syndrome and 2321 (22%) controls, corresponding to a 35% greater risk of heart attack and stroke in the metabolic syndrome group. The median time to first non-fatal heart attack or stroke was 16.8 years in the metabolic syndrome group and 19.1 years in the control group, a difference of 2.3 years.

Dr. Lennberg emphasizes: “Since the metabolic syndrome is a combination of risk factors, the level of each individual component does not have to be very high. In fact, most people live with slightly elevated levels for many years before they develop symptoms that force them to seek medical attention. In our study, middle-aged adults with metabolic syndrome experienced a heart attack or stroke 2.3 years earlier than those without a set of unhealthy traits. Blood pressure was the most dangerous component, especially for women over 40, highlighting the importance of keeping it under control.”

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation, comments: “Even if you feel well, small increases in your blood pressure, waist circumference, cholesterol and blood sugar can have a significant impact on your future risk of heart attacks and strokes. The important message is that you can reduce your risk with simple measures. A well-balanced diet, regular physical activity, and not smoking can all help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as control your weight. If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, your healthcare provider may also suggest medications to help lower your risk.”