Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
David A. Jenkins, Kaitlin H. Wade, David Carslake, Jack Bowden, Naveed Sattar, Ruth J. F. Loos, Nicholas J. Timpson, Matthew Sperrin, Martin K. Rutter
Summary: Observational data have shown that being overweight or obese is associated with a lower risk of death compared to being normal weight, a phenomenon known as the obesity paradox. However, Mendelian randomization analysis in this study revealed a positive linear causal effect of BMI on mortality risk, supporting the idea that intentional weight loss towards the normal BMI range could reduce mortality risk in the general population, including individuals with coronary heart disease.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Zexu Wang, Jie Wang, Jiayan Wang, Yinghua Liao, Xin Hu, Manni Wang
Summary: This study summarized the relationship between obesity and mortality after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The findings suggest that obesity may be associated with lower mortality in ICH, reflecting the obesity paradox in this disease.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Eva S. van Walree, Iris E. Jansen, Nathaniel Y. Bell, Jeanne E. Savage, Christiaan de Leeuw, Max Nieuwdorp, Sophie van der Sluis, Danielle Posthuma
Summary: A quarter of the world's population is estimated to have metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes. This study found that the genetic correlations of MetS components can be best captured by a genetic one factor model. A genome-wide association study detected 235 associated loci, with 53 loci overlapping with loci for multiple MetS components. These findings provide insights into the genetics of MetS and suggest potential drug targets.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Matan Elkan, Natalia Kofman, Sa'ar Minha, Nadav Rappoport, Ronit Zaidenstein, Ronit Koren
Summary: Obesity is independently associated with decreased short- and long-term mortality, leading to the obesity paradox where higher body mass index (BMI) has a protective effect on mortality in acute infectious disease patients. Further exploration of this counterintuitive phenomenon is warranted.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Dawei Zhou, Chao Wang, Qing Lin, Tong Li
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of obesity on long-term mortality outcomes after discharge from ICU. The results showed that higher BMI was associated with lower 4-year mortality rate among survivors, indicating the presence of the obesity paradox.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Hye Ju Yeo, Tae Hwa Kim, Jin Ho Jang, Kyeongman Jeon, Dong Kyu Oh, Mi Hyeon Park, Chae-Man Lim, Kipoong Kim, Woo Hyun Cho
Summary: This multicenter, prospective, observational study conducted in South Korea found that obesity is positively correlated with sepsis outcomes in Asian populations. Propensity score-matched analysis showed that nonobese patients had higher hospital mortality, while obese patients had a higher home discharge rate and better functional outcomes at discharge. Further analysis based on the World Health Organization body mass index classification revealed that underweight, overweight, and obesity were associated with hospital mortality and frailty at discharge relative to normal BMI.
CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Moustapha Drame, Lidvine Godaert
Summary: The obesity paradox refers to the counterintuitive finding that older adults who are overweight or obese may have better outcomes in certain diseases compared to those with normal weight or underweight. This systematic review aims to summarize publications on the obesity paradox in older adults and gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Odayme Quesada, Marie Lauzon, Rae Buttle, Janet Wei, Nissi Suppogu, Sheryl F. Kelsey, Steven E. Reis, Leslee J. Shaw, George Sopko, Eileen Handberg, Carl J. Pepine, C. Noel Bairey Merz
Summary: This study aims to determine the role of physical fitness in the obesity paradox in women with ischaemic heart disease (IHD). The findings suggest that physical fitness plays a role in the association between obesity and cardiovascular outcomes in women. Overweight and obese women with good physical fitness had lower long-term all-cause mortality, while normal weight women with poor physical fitness had higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Matthew Hennrikus, William P. Hennrikus, Erik Lehman, Michael Skolka, Eileen Hennrikus
Summary: The study revealed that obesity increases the risk of developing acute kidney injury after orthopedic surgery, which in turn leads to longer hospital stays and higher two-year mortality. Paradoxically, obese patients had a decreased likelihood of two-year mortality.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Stamatia Simati, Alexander Kokkinos, Maria Dalamaga, Georgia Argyrakopoulou
Summary: The obesity paradox refers to the observation that certain chronic diseases show a protective association between body mass index (BMI) and clinical outcomes. However, this association may be influenced by factors such as limitations of BMI, unintended weight loss due to chronic illness, different phenotypes of obesity, and cardiorespiratory fitness levels. Recent evidence suggests that cardioprotective medications, obesity duration, and smoking status also play a role in the obesity paradox.
CURRENT OBESITY REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
R. M. Amin, M. Raad, S. S. Rao, F. Musharbash, M. J. Best, D. F. Amanatullah
Summary: The study suggests that the obesity paradox does not apply to elderly hip fracture patients, and the appearance of the paradox in this group is due to statistical bias that is only evident upon subgroup analysis.
OSTEOPOROSIS INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Drago Plecko, Nicolas Bennett, Johan Martensson, Rinaldo Bellomo
Summary: The study found that increasing BMI is associated with higher glucose levels but lower mortality and hypoglycemia rates. Increased BMI independently decreases the risk of hypoglycemia.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Damiana-Maria Vulturar, Carmen-Bianca Crivii, Olga Hilda Orasan, Emanuel Palade, Anca-Dana Buzoianu, Iulia Georgiana Zehan, Doina Adina Todea
Summary: This systematic review of 23 studies concludes that obesity is a critical risk factor in the progression of COVID-19.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoyun Wu, Xiaowen Yang, Yuchai Tian, Pengchong Xu, Huifeng Yue, Nan Sang
Summary: The study found that BPB and BPAF, analogs of BPA, have adverse effects on uterine health, causing endometrial contraction, decreased epithelial height, and increased gland numbers. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that both BPB and BPAF disrupt the immune landscape of the uterus. Furthermore, eight genes associated with BPB and BPAF exposure were found to be related to uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC), and high expression of Srd5a1 was significantly correlated with poor prognosis in patients.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Adila Saimaiti, Dan-Dan Zhou, Jiahui Li, Ruo-Gu Xiong, Ren-You Gan, Si-Yu Huang, Ao Shang, Cai-Ning Zhao, Hang-Yu Li, Hua-Bin Li
Summary: The intake of dietary caffeine has increased significantly, and it has been extensively studied for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as its protective effects on cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes mellitus, cancers, neurodegenerative and liver diseases. However, long-term or excessive consumption of caffeine can lead to side effects such as addiction, insomnia, and migraine. It is recommended to limit caffeine intake in children, adolescents, pregnant women, and those sensitive to caffeine to avoid potential adverse effects.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Kaitlyn M. Berry, Tuhina Neogi, Joshua F. Baker, Jason M. Collins, Jason R. Waggoner, Chia-Wen Hsiao, Stephen S. Johnston, Michael P. LaValley, Andrew C. Stokes
Summary: Weight loss from young adulthood to midlife is associated with a substantially reduced risk of developing arthritis, emphasizing the importance of expanding obesity treatment and prevention to reduce the burden of arthritis.
ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Substance Abuse
Alyssa F. Harlow, Jessica L. Fetterman, Craig S. Ross, Rose Marie Robertson, Aruni Bhatnagar, Emelia J. Benjamin, Andrew C. Stokes
Summary: The study found that using non-tobacco flavors, daily vaping, and modifiable e-cigarette devices may help some smokers transition to exclusive e-cigarette use, but could also lead to ongoing use of e-cigarettes.
Letter
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jonathan B. Berlowitz, Wubin Xie, Alyssa F. Harlow, Naomi M. Hamburg, Michael J. Blaha, Aruni Bhatnagar, Emelia J. Benjamin, Andrew C. Stokes
Article
Gerontology
Kaitlyn M. Berry, Sarah Garcia, John Robert Warren, Andrew C. Stokes
Summary: This study aims to assess the association between BMI and BMI change with mortality. The results showed that BMI at midlife had a stronger association with late life mortality compared to BMI at older ages. The association between BMI change and mortality varied depending on the timing of weight change. Furthermore, late life health factors, such as self-rated health, diabetes, and physical functioning, mediated the observed associations. Therefore, knowing a person's weight at midlife and how it has changed may be more important in assessing their risk of mortality in later life.
JOURNAL OF AGING AND HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Calvin A. Ackley, Dielle J. Lundberg, Lei Ma, Irma T. Elo, Samuel H. Preston, Andrew C. Stokes
Summary: This study analyzed the excess deaths and mortality associated with COVID-19 in the U.S. using a generalized linear model. The results showed that a significant proportion of excess deaths were not directly assigned to COVID-19. The study also found regional variations in the proportion of excess deaths assigned to COVID-19, with some regions reporting higher excess mortality in nonmetro areas. It highlights the importance of estimating excess mortality to allocate resources and promote positive behaviors during the pandemic.
SSM-POPULATION HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Alyssa F. Harlow, Andrew C. Stokes, Daniel R. Brooks, Emelia J. Benjamin, Adam M. Leventhal, Rob S. McConnell, Jessica L. Barrington-Trimis, Craig S. Ross
Summary: Longitudinal patterns of e-cigarette use appear to predict smoking abstinence in a US cohort of adult smokers. Consistent daily vaping is associated with increased chances of quitting smoking, while consistent non-daily vaping is associated with decreased chances of quitting smoking.
Letter
Critical Care Medicine
Wubin Xie, Andrew C. Stokes
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Nicole Mauer, Pascal Geldsetzer, Jennifer Manne-Goehler, Justine Davies, Andrew C. Stokes, Margaret McConnell, Mohammed K. Ali, Volker Winkler, Nikkil Sudharsanan
Summary: This study examines the process of hypertension care in middle-income countries by analyzing population-based cohort data from China, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa. The findings reveal that there are challenges in hypertension control in these countries, with a relatively low percentage of individuals being diagnosed, treated, and achieving blood pressure control.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Helene E. Aschmanna, Alicia R. Riley, Ruijia Chen, Yea-Hung Chen, Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, Andrew C. Stokes, M. Maria Glymour, Mathew V. Kiang
Summary: As research shows, the COVID-19 pandemic has had different impacts on different races and ethnicities, leading to disparities in mortality rates. Prior to the pandemic, mortality disparities among different races and ethnicities were relatively stable. However, with the onset of the pandemic, mortality disadvantages increased for American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN), Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (NHOPI), and Black individuals, while mortality advantages decreased for Asian and Hispanic groups. During COVID-19 surges, mortality rate ratios generally increased, but in the summer of 2021 and winter of 2021/2022, disparities approached pre-pandemic levels for Asian and Black individuals. Importantly, two populations below age 65 fared worse than White individuals during these surges. Our findings highlight the dynamic nature of racial/ethnic disparities in mortality, particularly the exacerbation of mortality inequities for Indigenous groups due to the pandemic.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jonathan B. Berlowitz, Wubin Xie, Alyssa F. Harlow, Michael J. Blaha, Aruni Bhatnagar, Emelia J. Benjamin, Andrew C. Stokes
Summary: E-cigarette use is associated with pulmonary inflammation, functional respiratory changes, and chronic lung disease. Most population-level E-cigarette research has utilized point-in-time measures of E-cigarette exposures, which may not generalize to adults who transition between cigarettes and E-cigarettes. Transitions from nonuse to exclusive E-cigarette use are associated with increased incidence rate of wheeze, while transitions from cigarettes to E-cigarettes or from dual use to E-cigarette use are associated with reduced incidence rates of wheeze and dry nighttime cough. Further research is needed to assess the risks and benefits of E-cigarette-assisted cigarette cessation.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alyssa F. Harlow, Wubin Xie, Aboli R. Goghari, Dielle J. Lundberg, Rafeya Raquib, Jonathan B. Berlowitz, Andrew C. Stokes
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate socioeconomic and racial/ethnic differences in e-cigarette uptake and harm perceptions about e-cigarettes among adults who smoke cigarettes in the U.S. The findings suggest that Hispanic and Black adults were less likely to transition from cigarette smoking to exclusive e-cigarette use, while adults with higher education and income were more likely to make this transition. Additionally, adults with lower income and education were more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as equally or more harmful than cigarettes, which in turn decreased their likelihood of transitioning from cigarette smoking to e-cigarette use.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anneliese N. N. Luck, Andrew C. C. Stokes, Katherine Hempstead, Eugenio Paglino, Samuel H. H. Preston
Summary: This study aimed to identify the relationship between COVID-19 mortality and changes in mortality from specific causes of death by exploiting spatial variation across US states. The study found that causes of death other than COVID-19 accounted for 19.6% of the total mortality burden during the first year of the pandemic. Circulatory disease was the most significant contributor, followed by dementia and other respiratory diseases. In contrast, there was a negative association between COVID-19 death rates and changes in cancer death rates.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Ellen Boakye, John Erhabor, Olufunmilayo Obisesan, Erfan Tasdighi, Mohammadhassan Mirbolouk, Ngozi Osuji, Albert D. Osei, Jieun Lee, Andrew P. Defilippis, Andrew C. Stokes, Glenn A. Hirsch, Emelia J. Benjamin, Rose Marie Robertson, Aruni Bhatnagar, Omar El Shahawy, Michael J. Blaha
Summary: Surveillance of e-cigarette use is crucial for evaluating tobacco regulatory policies. This review identified 13 national epidemiologic surveys that assess e-cigarette use among U.S. youth and adults, which have been instrumental in e-cigarette surveillance. These surveys vary in scope and detail, providing unique strengths and the ability to answer specific regulatory questions.
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-AMERICAS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jacob Bor, Andrew C. Stokes, Julia Raifman, Atheendar Venkataramani, Mary T. Bassett, David Himmelstein, Steffie Woolhandler
Summary: This study assesses the number of US deaths that could have been averted annually from 1933 to 2021 if the US age-specific mortality rates were equal to the average of 21 other wealthy nations. These excess deaths are referred to as missing Americans. The US had lower mortality rates in the earlier decades and similar rates in the 1960s and 1970s compared to peer countries. However, there has been a steady increase in missing Americans since the 1980s, with a significant surge during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yea-Hung Chen, Andrew C. Stokes, Helene E. Aschmann, Ruijia Chen, Shelley DeVost, Mathew V. Kiang, Suneil Koliwad, Alicia R. Riley, M. Maria Glymour, Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo
Summary: Excess mortality during the pandemic has surpassed the reported deaths from Covid-19, indicating potential undercounting of Covid-19 deaths. The study found that a significant number of excess natural-cause deaths occurred outside the hospital and were not attributed to Covid-19. The temporal association between Covid-19 deaths and excess out-of-hospital deaths suggests that Covid-19 deaths may have been underestimated in the first year of the pandemic.
