Scientists in a recent study have found that having excessive fat in the abdomen increases the risk of heart attacks.
The study author, Dr Hanieh Mohammadi, said the reason abdominal obesity was common in people with a first heart attack was that it is closely linked with conditions that accelerate the clogging of arteries through atherosclerosis.
He said, “These conditions include increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, and insulin resistance (diabetes), as well as raised blood lipid levels. The team’s results suggest that there may be other mechanisms associated with abdominal obesity that are independent of these risk factors and remain unrecognised.”
According to medicalnewstoday.com, the research, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, did not just look at recurrent heart attacks, but also at ischemic strokes and coronary heart disease-related deaths that occurred after an initial heart attack.
The study involved more than 22,000 participants aged between 35 and 77, making it the largest study on the topic to date. The Swedish team enlisted people from the country’s SWEDEHEART cardiac registry. Almost 17,000 were male.
The researchers followed each participant for around four years after their heart attack. The team used the data from the participants’ initial hospital visits and further checkups.
The study authors measured the participants’ waist circumferences along with weight, height, blood pressure, electrocardiogram rhythm and levels of blood lipids and glucose.
They calculated waist circumference — the main focus of the research — by measuring the stomach between the last rib and the iliac crest, which is the most prominent part of the pelvis.
The team concluded that stomach fat was a more vital indicator of recurrent heart attacks than general obesity.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]