High Burden of Subclinical and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Adults With Metabolically Healthy Obesity: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Association between phthalates exposure and myocardial damage in the general population: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular consequences of phthalates exposure have been given increasing attention, but the association of phthalates with subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) was unknown. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the association between phthalates exposure and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI), a marker of myocardial injury, which was detectable in the subclinical stage of CVD.

METHODS

Participants aged 6 years or older with available urinary phthalates metabolites and serum hs-cTnI concentrations were included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004 cycle. Multivariable linear regression and weighted quantiles sum (WQS) regression were used to assess the association of hs-cTnI with individual phthalates and their co-exposure. Di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (ΣDEHP), high-molecular-weight phthalate (ΣHMWP), and low-molecular-weight phthalate (ΣLMWP) were defined as the molecular sum of phthalates metabolites in urine.

RESULTS

2241 participants were finally included. The percent change of serum hs-cTnI concentrations related to per 1-standard deviation increase of logarithmic urinary phthalates concentrations was 3.4% (0.1-6.7, P = 0.04) for ΣDEHP, 3.6% (0.3-6.9, P = 0.03) for ΣHMWP, and 3.5% (0.2-6.8, P = 0.04) for ΣLMWP. Co-exposure to phthalates metabolites expressed as the WQS index also demonstrated a positive association with hs-cTnI. A similar association pattern was found in the population with no prior CVD.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicated the potential of phthalates to myocardial injury which may occur even before clinically apparent CVD was identified, emphasizing the significance of reducing phthalates in the prevention of CVD.

Metabolically healthy obesity and risks of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, a matched cohort study: the Shizuoka study

BACKGROUND

Metabolically healthy obesity is not always a benign condition. It is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. We investigated the prognostic significance of metabolically healthy obesity by comparing clinical profile-matched metabolically healthy obesity and non-obesity groups.

METHODS

We analyzed a health insurance dataset with annual health checkup data from Japan. The analyzed data included 168,699 individuals aged <65 years. Obesity was defined as ≥25 kg/m2 body mass index. Metabolically healthy was defined as ≤1 metabolic risk factor (high blood pressure, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or high hemoglobin A1c). Incidence rates of stroke, myocardial infarction, and all-cause mortality identified from the insurance data were compared between metabolically healthy obesity and non-obesity groups (n = 8644 each) using a log-rank test.

RESULTS

The stroke (obesity: 9.2 per 10,000 person-years; non-obesity: 10.5; log-rank test p = 0.595), myocardial infarction (obesity: 3.7; non-obesity: 3.1; p = 0.613), and all-cause mortality (obesity: 26.6; non-obesity: 23.2; p = 0.304) incidence rates did not differ significantly between the metabolically healthy obesity and non-obesity groups, even when the abdominal obesity was considered in the analysis. The lack of association was also observed in the comparison between the metabolically unhealthy obesity and non-obesity groups (n = 10,965 each). The population with metabolically healthy obesity reported negligibly worse metabolic profiles than the population with non-obesity at the 5.6-year follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Obesity, when accompanied by a healthy metabolic profile, did not increase the risk of cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality.

Associations between life's essential 8 and metabolic health among us adults: insights of NHANES from 2005 to 2018

BACKGROUND

Metabolic unhealth (MUH) is closely associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Life's Essential 8 (LE8), a recently updated cardiovascular health (CVH) assessment, has some overlapping indicators with MUH but is more comprehensive and complicated than MUH. Given the close relationship between them, it is important to compare these two measurements.

METHODS

This population-based cross-sectional survey included 20- to 80-year-old individuals from 7 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles between 2005 and 2018. Based on the parameters provided by the American Heart Association, the LE8 score (which ranges from 0 to 100) was used to classify CVH into three categories: low (0-49), moderate (50-79), and high (80-100). The MUH status was evaluated by blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipids. The associations were assessed by multivariable regression analysis, subgroup analysis, restricted cubic spline models, and sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 22,582 participants were enrolled (median of age was 45 years old), among them, 11,127 were female (weighted percentage, 49%) and 16,595 were classified as MUH (weighted percentage, 73.5%). The weighted median LE8 scores of metabolic health (MH) and MUH individuals are 73.75 and 59.38, respectively. Higher LE8 scores were linked to lower risks of MUH (odds ratio [OR] for every 10 scores increase, 0.53; 95% CI 0.51-0.55), and a nonlinear dose-response relationship was seen after the adjustment of potential confounders. This negative correlation between LE8 scores, and MUH was strengthened among elderly population.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher LE8 and its subscales scores were inversely and nonlinearly linked with the lower presence of MUH. MUH is consistent with LE8 scores, which can be considered as an alternative indicator when it is difficult to collect the information of health behaviors.

Metabolically healthy obesity: from epidemiology and mechanisms to clinical implications

The concept of metabolic health, particularly in obesity, has attracted a lot of attention in the scientific community, and is being increasingly used to determine the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus-related complications. This Review assesses the current understanding of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO). First, we present the historical evolution of the concept. Second, we discuss the evidence for and against its existence, the usage of different definitions of MHO over the years and the efforts made to provide novel definitions of MHO. Third, we highlight epidemiological data with regard to cardiovascular risk in MHO, which is estimated to be moderately elevated using widely used definitions of MHO when compared with individuals with metabolically healthy normal weight, but potentially not elevated using a novel definition of MHO. Fourth, we discuss novel findings about the physiological mechanisms involved in MHO and how such knowledge helps to identify and characterize both people with MHO and those with metabolically unhealthy normal weight. Finally, we address how the concept of MHO can be used for risk stratification and treatment in clinical practice.

Metabolic Risk Profile and Graft Function Deterioration 2 Years After Kidney Transplant

Importance

Studies exploring the association of body weight and metabolic status with graft function deterioration (GFD) after kidney transplantation have produced inconsistent findings. Few studies have examined whether metabolically healthy overweight or obesity (MHO) may contribute to GFD.

Objective

To evaluate associations of overweight or obesity and metabolic disorders with GFD in recipients of kidney transplant.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, with a follow-up period of 2 years after kidney transplantation. Participants included adult recipients of cadaveric kidney transplant in 4 transplantation centers in China. Participants were classified as 4 metabolic phenotypes according to their BMI and metabolic status. Data were analyzed from July to August 2023.

Exposures

Overweight and obesity were characterized by body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) of 24 or greater. Metabolic disorder was identified by existence of a minimum of 2 of 4 conditions: hypertension, hyperglycemia, increased triglyceride, and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Main Outcome and Measures

The main outcome was GFD, defined as a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate of at least 25% within 6 months to 2 years after transplant.

Results

A total of 1260 adult recipients of cadaveric kidney transplant (mean [SD] age, 43.97 [11.51] years; 755 [59.92%] male) were included in the study, and 127 (10.08%) participants experienced the primary outcome of GFD during follow-up. After accounting for confounding factors in multivariable analyses, overweight or obesity (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% CI, 1.10-2.44; P = .02) and metabolic disorder (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.12-2.63; P = .01) were associated with increased risk of GFD. The MHO subgroup exhibited a greater risk for GFD (OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.01-5.57; P = .048) compared with participants who did not have overweight or obesity or metabolic disorder. All components of metabolic disorder, with the exception of elevated triglyceride, were associated with GFD. There was a dose-response association of number of metabolic disorder components (OR per 1 additional condition, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.20-1.63; P < .001) and BMI (OR per 1-unit increase, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.03-1.15; P = .002) with increased risk for GFD. A nonlinear association was observed between BMI and risk of GFD.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of recipients of cadaveric kidney transplant, individuals with overweight or obesity or metabolic disorder had a significantly higher risk of experiencing GFD. Individuals with MHO had an elevated risk for graft function deterioration. Additional studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up are necessary to validate our findings.

Exploring the Mechanistic Link Between Obesity and Heart Failure

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Among subtypes of cardiovascular disease, obesity has a potent and unique association with heart failure (HF) that is unexplained by traditional cardiovascular risk mediators. The concomitant rise in the prevalence of obesity and HF necessitates better understanding of their relationship to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies. The purpose of this review is to provide mechanistic insight regarding the link between obesity and HF by elucidating the direct and indirect pathways linking the two conditions.

RECENT FINDINGS

Several direct pathophysiologic mechanisms contribute to HF risk in individuals with excess weight, including hemodynamic alterations, neurohormonal activation, hormonal effects of dysfunctional adipose tissue, ectopic fat deposition with resulting lipotoxicity and microvascular dysfunction. Obesity further predisposes to HF indirectly through causal associations with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and most importantly, diabetes via insulin resistance. Low levels of physical activity and fitness further influence HF risk in the context of obesity. These various processes lead to myocardial injury and cardiac remodeling that are reflected by abnormalities in cardiac biomarkers and cardiac function on myocardial imaging. Understanding and addressing obesity-associated HF is a pressing clinical and public health challenge which can be informed by a deeper understanding of the complex pathways linking these two conditions together.

A Synopsis of the Evidence for the Science and Clinical Management of Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

A growing appreciation of the pathophysiological interrelatedness of metabolic risk factors such as obesity and diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease has led to the conceptualization of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome. The confluence of metabolic risk factors and chronic kidney disease within cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome is strongly linked to risk for adverse cardiovascular and kidney outcomes. In addition, there are unique management considerations for individuals with established cardiovascular disease and coexisting metabolic risk factors, chronic kidney disease, or both. An extensive body of literature supports our scientific understanding of, and approach to, prevention and management for individuals with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome. However, there are critical gaps in knowledge related to cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome in terms of mechanisms of disease development, heterogeneity within clinical phenotypes, interplay between social determinants of health and biological risk factors, and accurate assessments of disease incidence in the context of competing risks. There are also key limitations in the data supporting the clinical care for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, particularly in terms of early-life prevention, screening for risk factors, interdisciplinary care models, optimal strategies for supporting lifestyle modification and weight loss, targeting of emerging cardioprotective and kidney-protective therapies, management of patients with both cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease, and the impact of systematically assessing and addressing social determinants of health. This scientific statement uses a crosswalk of major guidelines, in addition to a review of the scientific literature, to summarize the evidence and fundamental gaps related to the science, screening, prevention, and management of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome.

Obesity phenotypes and cardiovascular risk: From pathophysiology to clinical management

Obesity epidemic reached the dimensions of a real global health crisis with more than one billion people worldwide living with obesity. Multiple obesity-related mechanisms cause structural, functional, humoral, and hemodynamic alterations with cardiovascular (CV) deleterious effects. A correct assessment of the cardiovascular risk in people with obesity is critical for reducing mortality and preserving quality of life. The correct identification of the obesity status remains difficult as recent evidence suggest that different phenotypes of obesity exist, each one associated with different degrees of CV risk. Diagnosis of obesity cannot depend only on anthropometric parameters but should include a precise assessment of the metabolic status. Recently, the World Heart Federation and World Obesity Federation provided an action plan for management of obesity-related CV risk and mortality, stressing for the instauration of comprehensive structured programs encompassing multidisciplinary teams. In this review we aim at providing an updated summary regarding the different obesity phenotypes, their specific effects on CV risk and differences in clinical management.

Association of obesity profiles and metabolic health status with liver injury among US adult population in NHANES 1999-2016

The combined effect of obesity and metabolic abnormalities on liver injury is unclear. Aiming to address this knowledge gap, this cross-sectional study was conducted among 16,201 US adults. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the associations of obesity profiles, metabolic health status, and weight change with the levels of liver enzymes. The analysis revealed that general obesity and abdominal obesity were positively associated with the levels of liver enzymes and the prevalence of abnormal liver enzymes (P and Ptrend < 0.05). The associations remained significant in both metabolically healthy and metabolically unhealthy subgroups. Additionally, the liver injury index levels of the metabolically unhealthy participants were higher than those of the metabolically healthy individuals within the non-obese, overweight/pre-abdominal obesity, and general/abdominal obesity subgroups (P and Ptrend < 0.05). Furthermore, the subgroup characterized by general/abdominal obesity and metabolic dysfunction exhibited the most robust association with the liver injury index compared to all other subgroups examined. In addition, positive associations were observed between the 1-year and 10-year weight changes and the levels of liver injury indicators (P and Ptrend < 0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that both obesity and metabolic impairment are independently associated with liver injury, and their combined presence have an additional adverse effect on liver health. These findings underscore the importance of addressing both obesity and metabolic dysfunction in order to mitigate the risk of liver injury.

Investigating Adiposity-Related Metabolic Health Phenotypes in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Obesity and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are related through meta-inflammation and are both associated with increased cardiometabolic risk. Notwithstanding, cardiometabolic pathology is not uniform in obesity and a subset of individuals with excess adiposity exhibit a healthy metabolic profile. Whilst the incidence of cardiometabolic endpoints and transitions across different adiposity-related body composition phenotypes within several populations and across different ethnicities have been investigated, data regarding metabolic health (MetH) and body composition phenotypes in individuals with HS are lacking. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between different body composition phenotypes in individuals with HS.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 632 individuals with and without HS from a population with a high prevalence of both obesity and HS. A total of four body composition phenotypes were generated based on BMI and metabolic status (defined using either the metabolic syndrome definition or the homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)): metabolically healthy overweight/obese (MHOWOB), metabolically unhealthy overweight/obese (MUOWOB), metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), and metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW).

RESULTS

Generally, subjects with HS exhibited a worse metabolic profile with higher levels of indices of central adiposity measures (including Visceral Adiposity Index and waist circumference), systolic blood pressure and markers of insulin resistance, as well as a higher prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. Moreover, when sub-stratified into the different body composition phenotypes, individuals with HS typically also demonstrated adverse metabolic characteristics relative to controls matched for both adiposity and metabolic health, particularly in the normal weight category and despite being classified as metabolically healthy. Being metabolically unhealthy in addition to being overweight/obese increases an individual's risk of HS.

CONCLUSIONS

Metabolic risk-assessment should be prioritized in the clinical management of individuals with HS even in those who are lean. Patients attending HS clinics provide a valuable opportunity for targeted cardiovascular risk reduction with respect to the management of both obesity and metabolic health.

Myocardial Tissue-Level Characteristics of Adults With Metabolically Healthy Obesity

BACKGROUND

It remains unclear whether adults with metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) have altered myocardial tissue-level characteristics.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to assess the subclinical myocardial tissue-level characteristics of adults with MHO.

METHODS

The EARLY-MYO-OBESITY (EARLY Assessment of MYOcardial Tissue Characteristics in OBESITY; NCT05277779) registry was a prospective, 3-center, cardiac imaging study of obese nondiabetic individuals without cardiac symptoms who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance. Myocardial tissue-level characteristics, including extracellular volume fraction (ECV) and native T2 values, were measured as indicators of myocardial fibrosis and edema. Global longitudinal peak systolic strain and early diastolic longitudinal strain rate were assessed by tissue tracking analysis to detect subclinical systolic and diastolic dysfunction.

RESULTS

A total of 120 participants were included: MHO (n = 32; mean age, 38 years; 41% men), metabolically healthy controls without obesity (n = 32; mean age: 37 years; 41% men), and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUHO) (n = 56; mean age: 37 years; 55% men). The MHO group had higher ECV and native T2 values than healthy controls (both P < 0.001); furthermore, the ECV was higher in the MUHO group than in the MHO group (P = 0.002). The prevalence of myocardial fibrosis was 44% (14 of 32) in the MHO group and 71% (40 of 56) in the MUHO group. Although there was no intergroup difference in left ventricular ejection fraction, the MHO group had reduced global longitudinal peak systolic and early diastolic longitudinal strain rates, indicating subclinical systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Multivariate regression analysis identified increased body mass index to be an independent risk factor for myocardial fibrosis (OR: 6.28 [95% CI: 3.17-12.47]; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides the first evidence of subclinical myocardial tissue-level remodeling in adults with obesity, regardless of metabolic health. Early identification of cardiac impairment may facilitate preventive strategies against heart failure in the MHO population. (EARLY Assessment of MYOcardial Tissue Characteristics in OBESITY [EARLY-MYO-OBESITY]; NCT05277779).

Association of body mass index, metabolic health status and clinical outcomes in acute myocardial infarction patients: a national registry-based study

Introduction

Obesity is an important risk factor for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but the interplay between metabolic health and obesity on AMI mortality has been controversial. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the risk of short- and long-term all-cause mortality by obesity and metabolic health in AMI patients using data from a multi-ethnic national AMI registry.

Methods

A total of 73,382 AMI patients from the national Singapore Myocardial Infarction Registry (SMIR) were included. These patients were classified into four groups based on the presence or absence of metabolic diseases, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, and hypertension, and obesity: (1) metabolically-healthy-normal-weight (MHN); (2) metabolically-healthy-obese (MHO); (3) metabolically-unhealthy-normal-weight (MUN); and (4) metabolically-unhealthy-obese (MUO).

Results

MHO patients had reduced unadjusted risk of all-cause in-hospital, 30-day, 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year mortality following the initial MI event. However, after adjusting for potential confounders, the protective effect from MHO on post-AMI mortality was lost. Furthermore, there was no reduced risk of recurrent MI or stroke within 1-year from onset of AMI by the MHO status. However, the risk of 1-year mortality was higher in female and Malay AMI patients with MHO compared to MHN even after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusion

In AMI patients with or without metabolic diseases, the presence of obesity did not affect mortality. The exception to this finding were female and Malay MHO who had worse long-term AMI mortality outcomes when compared to MHN suggesting that the presence of obesity in female and Malay patients may confer worsened outcomes.

Metabolically healthy obesity is associated with higher risk of both hyperfiltration and mildly reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate: the role of serum uric acid in a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The impact of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) on kidney dysfunction remains debatable. Moreover, few studies have focused on the early stages of kidney dysfunction indicated by hyperfiltration and mildly reduced eGFR. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association between the MHO and early kidney dysfunction, which is represented by hyperfiltration and mildly reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and to further explore whether serum uric acid affects this association.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 1188 residents aged ≥ 40 years old from Yonghong Communities. Metabolically healthy phenotypes were categorized based on Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m². Mildly reduced eGFR was defined as being in the range 60 < eGFR ≤ 90 ml/min/1.73m². Hyperfiltration was defined as eGFR > 95th percentile after adjusting for sex, age, weight, and height.

RESULTS

Overall, MHO accounted for 12.8% of total participants and 24.6% of obese participants. Compared to metabolically healthy non-obesity (MHNO), MHO was significantly associated with an increased risk of mildly reduced eGFR (odds ratio [OR] = 1.85, 95% confidence interval [CI]  1.13-3.01) and hyperfiltration (OR = 2.28, 95% CI 1.03-5.09). However, upon further adjusting for uric acid, the association between the MHO phenotype and mildly reduced eGFR was reduced to null. Compared with MHNO/non-hyperuricemia, MHO/non-hyperuricemia was associated with an increased risk of mildly reduced eGFR (OR = 2.04, 95% CI  1.17-3.58), whereas MHO/hyperuricemia was associated with an observably increased risk (OR = 3.07, 95% CI  1.34-7.01).

CONCLUSIONS

MHO was associated with an increased risk of early kidney dysfunction, and the serum uric acid partially mediated this association. Further prospective studies are warranted to clarify the causality.

Association of metabolically healthy obesity in young adulthood with myocardial structure and function

BACKGROUND

Obesity is major cause of cardiovascular diseases. Metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) may increase heart failure risk early in life, and may be reflected in impaired cardiac structure and function. Therefore, we aimed to examine the relationship between MHO in young adulthood and cardiac structure and function.

METHODS

A total of 3066 participants from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study were included, who completed echocardiography in young adulthood and middle age. The participants were grouped by obesity status (body mass index ≥30 kg/m²) and poor metabolic health (≥2 criteria for metabolic syndrome) into four metabolic phenotypes as follows: metabolically healthy non-obesity (MHN), MHO, metabolically unhealthy non-obesity (MUN), metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO). The associations of the metabolic phenotypes (MHN serving as the reference) with left ventricular (LV) structure and function were evaluated using multiple linear regression models.

RESULTS

At baseline, mean age was 25 years, 56.4% were women, and 44.7% were black. After a follow-up 25 years, MUN in young adulthood was associated with worse LV diastolic function (E/é ratio, β [95% CI], 0.73 [0.18, 1.28]), worse systolic function (global longitudinal strain [GLS], 0.60 [0.08, 1.12]) in comparison with MHN. MHO and MUO were associated with LV hypertrophy (LV mass index, 7.49 g/m² [4.63, 10.35]; 18.23 g/m² [12.47, 23.99], respectively), worse diastolic function (E/é ratio, 0.67 [0.31, 1.02]; 1.47 [0.79, 2.14], respectively), and worse systolic function (GLS, 0.72 [0.38, 1.06]; 1.35 [0.64, 2.05], respectively) in comparison with MHN. These results were consistent in several sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

In this community-based cohort using data from the CARDIA study, obesity in young adulthood was significantly associated with LV hypertrophy, worse systolic and diastolic function regardless of metabolic status. Relationship of Baseline Metabolic Phenotypes with Young Adulthood and Midlife Cardiac Structure and Function. Adjusted for year 0 covariates: age, sex, race, educational level, smoking status, drinking status, and physical activity; metabolically healthy non-obesity was used as a reference category for comparison. ^† Criteria for metabolic syndrome are listed in Supplementary Table S6. MUN metabolically unhealthy non-obesity, MHO metabolically healthy obesity, LVMi left ventricular mass index, LVEF left ventricular ejection fraction, E/A early to late peak diastolic mitral flow velocity ratio, E/é mitral inflow velocity to early diastolic mitral annular velocity, CI confidence interval.

Risk of Heart Failure between Different Metabolic States of Health and Weight: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies

We conducted a systematic review of cohort studies comparing the risk of heart failure in people with differing metabolic health and obesity statuses. We searched three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus), where the studies of the relationships of metabolic health and obesity statuses with heart failure were included. Fixed-effects or random-effects models were used to estimate the summary relative risks [RRs]. Ten cohort studies were selected. Compared with individuals with normal metabolic health and body mass, the pooled RRs (95% confidence intervals) for heart failure were 1.23 (1.17, 1.29) for metabolic healthy overweight individuals, 1.52 (1.40, 1.64) for metabolic healthy individuals with obesity, 1.56 (1.30, 1.87) for metabolically unhealthy normal-weight individuals, 1.75 (1.55, 1.98) for metabolically unhealthy overweight individuals, and 2.28 (1.96, 2.66) for metabolic unhealthy individuals with obesity. A sensitivity analysis suggested that no single study had a substantial effect on the results. The Egger's and Begg's tests showed no evidence of publication bias. People with overweight or obesity were at a higher risk of heart failure, even if metabolically healthy. In addition, compared with metabolically healthy normal-weight individuals; metabolically unhealthy normal-weight individuals, and those with overweight or and obesity, were at higher risk of heart failure.

Recruiting and Engaging Women of Reproductive Age with Obesity: Insights from A Mixed-Methods Study within A Trial

Engaging women with obesity in health-related studies during preconception is challenging. Limited data exists relating to their participation. The aim of this study is to explore the experiences and opinions of women participating in a weight-related, preconception trial. This is an explanatory sequential (quan-QUAL) mixed-methods Study Within A Trial, embedded in the GetGutsy randomized controlled trial (ISRCTN11295995). Screened participants completed an online survey of eight questions (single or multiple choice and Likert scale) on recruitment, motivations and opinions on study activities. Participants with abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥ 80 cm) were invited to a subsequent semi-structured, online focus group (n = 2, 9 participants) that was transcribed and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis, with a pragmatic epistemological approach. The survey (n = 102) showed the main research participation motivations were supporting health research (n = 38, 37.3%) and wanting health screening (n = 30, 29.4%). Most participants were recruited via email (n = 35, 34.7%) or social media (n = 15, 14.7%). In the FGs, participants valued flexibility, convenience and. research methods that aligned with their lifestyles. Participants had an expanded view of health that considered emotional well-being and balance alongside more traditional medical assessments. Clinical trialists should consider well-being, addressing the interconnectedness of health and incorporate a variety of research activities to engage women of reproductive age with obesity.

Metabolically unhealthy phenotype in normal weight population and risk of mortality and major adverse cardiac events: A meta-analysis of 41 prospective cohort studies

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

It is still debatable whether metabolic status in normal weight population increases the risk of mortality (all-cause mortality (ACM), cardiovascular mortality (CVM)) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) as compared to the obese population. Therefore, this meta-analysis aims to evaluate the association of the metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUH-NW) phenotype with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and MACE in comparison to metabolically healthy obesity (MH-O), along with the association of metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUH-O) phenotype regarding the same outcomes compared to MUH-NW.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted using online databases from inception to June 20, 2022, to comprehensively search all prospective cohort studies comprising three variables including adults aged ≥18 years, obesity and four metabolic phenotypes, and interest outcomes (ACM, CVM, and MACE).

RESULTS

Forty-one prospective cohort studies with a total of 4,028,750 participants was included in this study. Compared to MH-O, MUH-NW had a substantially higher risk of ACM (RR = 1.47 (95%CI = 1.32-1.64); P < 0.001; I² = 89.8%,P-heterogeneity<0.001), CVM (RR = 2.37 (95%CI = 1.97-2.86); P < 0.001; I² = 83.7%,P-heterogeneity<0.001), and MACE (RR = 1.73 (95%CI = 1.49-2.00); P < 0.001; I² = 74.3%,P-heterogeneity<0.001). Moreover, MUH-O did not have a significantly elevated risk of ACM (RR = 0.97 (95%CI = 0.82-1.15); P = 0.736; I² = 98.3%,P-heterogeneity<0.001), CVM (RR = 0.96 (95%CI = 0.88-1.05); P = 0.394; I² = 77.0%,P-heterogeneity<0.001), and MACE (RR = 0.95 (95%CI = 0.80-1.13); P = 0.570; I² = 92.2%,P-heterogeneity<0.001) compared to MUH-NW.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, MUH-NW was superior but not inferior to MH-O and MUH-O in terms of increased risk of interest outcomes, refuting the notion that normal weight population is a benign condition. Hence, in normal weight population, metabolic screening is highly suggested to measure the baseline of obesity and metabolic phenotypes, thus preventing the risk of CVD and mortality in the future.

Diabesity phenotype and the risks of cardiovascular disease and subclinical atherosclerosis: A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of diabesity with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and subclinical atherosclerosis.

METHODS

The prospective cohort study included 8,006 participants without baseline CVD. Diabesity was categorized as (i) normal glucose tolerance (NGT) with nonobesity; (ii) NGT with obesity; (iii) prediabetes with nonobesity; (iv) prediabetes with obesity; (v) diabetes with nonobesity; and (vi) diabetes with obesity. The hazard ratios (HRs) for incident CVD and odds ratios (ORs) for subclinical atherosclerosis associated with diabesity categories were examined.

RESULTS

Compared with the category of NGT with nonobesity, the categories of NGT with obesity (HR 1.68; 95% CI: 1.10-2.57), diabetes with nonobesity (HR 1.42; 95% CI: 1.08-1.88), and diabetes with obesity (HR 1.78; 95% CI: 1.24-2.55) were associated with higher risks of CVD. Prediabetes with or without obesity conferred no excess risk for CVD but higher risks for subclinical atherosclerosis. The diabetes with obesity category was associated with the highest risk for elevated pulse pressure (OR 3.07; 95% CI: 2.06-4.58) and albuminuria (OR 3.39; 95% CI: 2.31-4.99), and diabetes with or without obesity showed comparable ORs for elevated brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity.

CONCLUSIONS

The association patterns between diabesity and CVD risks support the value of diabesity as a prevention target for CVD.

Subclinical Cardiac Dysfunction is Associated with Reduced Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Firefighters

BACKGROUND

Past studies have documented the ability of cardiopulmonary exercise testing to detect cardiac dysfunction in symptomatic patients with coronary artery disease. Firefighters are at high risk for work-related cardiac events. This observational study investigated the association of subclinical cardiac dysfunction detected by cardiopulmonary exercise testing with modifiable cardiometabolic risk factors in asymptomatic firefighters.

METHODS

As part of mandatory firefighter medical evaluations, study subjects were assessed at 2 occupational health clinics serving 21 different fire departments. Mixed effects logistic regression analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and account for clustering by fire department.

RESULTS

Of the 967 male firefighters (ages 20-60 years; 84% non-Hispanic white; 14% on cardiovascular medications), nearly two-thirds (63%) had cardiac dysfunction despite having normal predicted cardiorespiratory fitness (median peak VO₂ = 102%). In unadjusted analyses, cardiac dysfunction was significantly associated with advanced age, obesity, diastolic hypertension, high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and reduced cardiorespiratory fitness (all P values < .05). After adjusting for age and ethnicity, the odds of having cardiac dysfunction were approximately one-third higher among firefighters with obesity and diastolic hypertension (OR = 1.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-1.87 and OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.03-1.80) and more than 5 times higher among firefighters with reduced cardiorespiratory fitness (OR = 5.41, 95% CI = 3.29-8.90).

CONCLUSION

Subclinical cardiac dysfunction detected by cardiopulmonary exercise testing is a common finding in career firefighters and is associated with substantially reduced cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic risk factors. These individuals should be targeted for aggressive risk factor modification to increase cardiorespiratory fitness as part of an outpatient prevention strategy to improve health and safety.

Burden of Aortic Aneurysm and Its Attributable Risk Factors from 1990 to 2019: An Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background

Global and national estimates on the epidemiology of aortic aneurysms are prerequisites for disease management and policymaking. Based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019, this study aimed to discern the global aortic aneurysm burden by systematically analyzing demographic data on mortality and exploring the attributable risks and relevant factors.

Methods

The data analyzed in this study were available in the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx) online query tool. The population in our study comprised individuals from 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019. The estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were performed to assess the temporal trends of aortic aneurysms and their attributable risks. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to explore the relationship between the burden of aortic aneurysm and covariates.

Results

Although aortic aneurysm-related deaths (82.1%) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) (67%) increased from 1990 to 2019, the global trend of age-standardized rate of death (ASRD) (EAPC: −1.34, 95% CI = −1.46 to −1.22, P < 0.001) and age-standardized rate of DALY (ASDALYR) (EAPC: −1.06, 95% CI = −1.17 to −0.95, P < 0.001) decreased, both of which presented age dependence and gender differences. Smoking and high systolic blood pressure (SBP) were the main attributable risks of disease burden and tend to decease globally (EAPC: −1.89, 95% CI = −2.03 to −1.89, P < 0.001; −1.31 95% CI = −1.43 to −1.19, P < 0.001, respectively). Alcohol abstinence (male: R = −0.71, P < 0.001; female: R = −0.73, P < 0.001), smoking age of initiation (male: R = −0.32, P < 0.001; female: R = −0.50, P < 0.001), physical activity (male: R = −0.50, P < 0.001; female: R = −0.55, P < 0.001), and mean temperature (R = −0.62, P < 0.001) had negative correlation with ASRD. However, cholesterol level (male: R = 0.62, P < 0.001; female: R = 0.39, P < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (male: R = 0.30, P < 0.001; female R = −0.01, P > 0.05), and alcohol consumption (male: R = 0.46, P < 0.001; female: R = 0.42, P < 0.001) had a positive correlation with ASRM. Besides, standard of living and medical resources positively related to burden of aortic aneurysm.

Conclusion

In this study, a decreasing trend of aortic aneurysm burden was found globally, especially in advanced regions. Aged men who smoke and women who have hypertension should pay close attention to, particularly in deprived economic groups, and many approaches can be performed to reduce the burden of aortic aneurysms.

Lipoprotein(a) and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease and Different Metabolic Phenotypes

Background

The positive relationship between metabolic healthy obesity (MHO) and cardiovascular risk has been under debate in recent years. Previously, strong evidence supported the causal role of increased plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels in cardiovascular disease (CVD). The current study aimed to investigate the different associations of Lp(a) and cardiovascular events (CVEs) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and different metabolic phenotypes.

Methods

A total of 5,089 patients who were angiography-proven CAD were consecutively included and followed up for CVEs. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m² according to Asia-specific BMI criteria. Patients were divided into four groups according to metabolic phenotypes, namely metabolically healthy/unhealthy non-obese and metabolically healthy/unhealthy obese [metabolically healthy non-obese (MHN), MHO, metabolically unhealthy non-obese (MUN), and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO)]. Comparisons of CAD severity and outcomes were performed among four groups. Cox regression analyses and cubic spline models were used to examine the relationship between Lp(a) and CVEs in patients with different metabolic phenotypes.

Results

During a median of 7.5 years’ follow-up, 540 (10.6%) CVEs occurred. MUN and MUO populations had more severe coronary stenosis than MHN ones, while no significant difference in the Gensini score (GS) was observed between MHN and MHO. Patients with MUN and MUO presented a higher risk of CVEs than patients with MHN (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.414, 95% CI: 1.024–1.953–1.556 and HR: 1.747, 95% CI: 1.295–1.363, p < 0.05). In subgroup analysis, restricted cubic spline models showed that there was no association between Lp(a) and CVEs in patients in MHN and MHO, while the MUN and MUO groups presented increasing associations between Lp(a) and CVEs and such association was stronger in the MUO group. In Cox regression analysis, Lp(a) >50 mg/dl was associated with a 2.032- and 2.206-fold higher risk of subsequent CVEs in the MUO and MUN subgroups, respectively.

Conclusion

Among patients with angiography-proven stable CAD, Lp(a) had a more significant prognostic value in both MUO and MUN individuals regardless of obesity, suggesting the importance of screening for cardiovascular risk with Lp(a) in metabolically unhealthy patients.

Association between Metabolically Healthy Obesity and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center (CMERC) Cohort

We aimed to investigate the association between a new definition of metabolic health (MH) and subclinical atherosclerosis in a cohort of patients without previous cardiovascular disease (CVD). In total, 7824 community-dwelling adults were categorized as normal weight, overweight, or obese. Metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) was defined as obesity accompanied by all of the following criteria: systolic blood pressure (BP) < 130 mmHg, no use of BP-lowering medication, waist-hip ratio <0.832 (women) and <0.887 (men), and no prevalent diabetes. Carotid atherosclerosis was defined as carotid plaque or mean carotid intima-media thickness ≥ 1.1 mm. The prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis was 8.3% and 1113 (14.2%) patients were classified as having MHO. All individuals classified as metabolically unhealthy were at an increased risk of carotid atherosclerosis independent of body mass index categories. Conversely, the risk of carotid atherosclerosis in individuals with MHO was not significantly increased compared to that in metabolically healthy normal weight participants (hazard ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval 0.87−1.67). This new definition of MH was able to identify people with MHO without an increased risk of CVD in an Asian community cohort.

The Shades of Grey in Adipose Tissue Reprogramming

The adipose tissue (AT) has a major role in contributing to obesity-related pathologies through regulating systemic immunometabolism. The pathogenicity of the AT is underpinned by its remarkable plasticity to be reprogrammed during obesity, in the perspectives of tissue morphology, extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, angiogenesis, immunometabolic homoeostasis and circadian rhythmicity. Dysregulation in these features escalates the pathogenesis conferred by this endometabolic organ. Intriguingly, the potential to be reprogrammed appears to be an Achilles’ heel of the obese AT that can be targeted for the management of obesity and its associated comorbidities. Here, we provide an overview of the reprogramming processes of white AT (WAT), with a focus on their dynamics and pleiotropic actions over local and systemic homoeostases, followed by a discussion of potential strategies favouring therapeutic reprogramming. The potential involvement of AT remodelling in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 is also discussed.

Novel Insights and Current Evidence for Mechanisms of Atherosclerosis: Mitochondrial Dynamics as a Potential Therapeutic Target

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death worldwide. Atherosclerosis is the underlying pathological basis of CVD. Mitochondrial homeostasis is maintained through the dynamic processes of fusion and fission. Mitochondria are involved in many cellular processes, such as steroid biosynthesis, calcium homeostasis, immune cell activation, redox signaling, apoptosis, and inflammation, among others. Under stress conditions, mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial cristae remodeling, and mitochondrial ROS (mitoROS) production increase, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) decreases, calcium homeostasis is imbalanced, and mitochondrial permeability transition pore open (mPTP) and release of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are activated. mtDNA recognized by TLR9 can lead to NF-κB pathway activation and pro-inflammatory factor expression. At the same time, TLR9 can also activate NLRP3 inflammasomes and release interleukin, an event that eventually leads to tissue damage and inflammatory responses. In addition, mitochondrial dysfunction may amplify the activation of NLRP3 through the production of mitochondrial ROS, which together aggravate accumulating mitochondrial damage. In addition, mtDNA defects or gene mutation can lead to mitochondrial oxidative stress. Finally, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and aging are risk factors for the progression of CVD, which are closely related to mitochondrial dynamics. Mitochondrial dynamics may represent a new target in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Antioxidants, mitochondrial inhibitors, and various new therapies to correct mitochondrial dysfunction represent a few directions for future research on therapeutic intervention and amelioration of atherosclerosis.