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Context Abundant evidence links overweight and obesity with impaired health. However, controversies persist as to whether overweight and obesity have additional impact on cardiovascular outcomes independent of their strong associations with established coronary risk factors, eg, high blood pressure and high cholesterol level. Objective To assess the relation of midlife body mass index with morbidity and mortality outcomes in older age among individuals without and with other major risk factors at baseline. Design Chicago Heart Association Detection Project in Industry study, a prospective study with baseline (1967-1973) cardiovascular risk classified as low risk (blood pressure 120/80 mm Hg, serum total cholesterol level <200 mg/dL [5.2 mmol/L], and not currently smoking); moderate risk (nonsmoking and systolic blood pressure 121-139 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure 81-89 mm Hg, and/or total cholesterol level 200-239 mg/dL [5.2-6.2 mmol/L]); or having any 1, any 2, or all 3 of the following risk factors: blood pressure 140/90 mm Hg, total cholesterol level 240 mg/dL (6.2 mmol/L), and current cigarette smoking. Body mass index was classified as normal weight (18.5-24.9), overweight (25.0-29.9), or obese (30). Mean follow-up was 32 years. Setting and Participants Participants were 17 643 men and women aged 31 through 64 years, recruited from Chicago-area companies or organizations and free of coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes, or major electrocardiographic abnormalities at baseline. Main Outcome Measures Hospitalization and mortality from CHD, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes, beginning at age 65 years. Results In multivariable analyses that included adjustment for systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol level, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for CHD death for obese participants compared with those of normal weight in the same risk category was 1.43 (0.33-6.25) for low risk and 2.07 (1.29-3.31) for moderate risk; for CHD hospitalization, the corresponding results were 4.25 (1.57-11.5) for low risk and 2.04 (1.29-3.24) for moderate risk. Results were similar for other risk groups and for cardiovascular disease, but stronger for diabetes (eg, low risk: 11.0 [2.21-54.5] for mortality and 7.84 [3.95-15.6] for hospitalization). Conclusion For individuals with no cardiovascular risk factors as well as for those with 1 or more risk factors, those who are obese in middle age have a higher risk of hospitalization and mortality from CHD, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes in older age than those who are normal weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Increasing prevalence of overweight/obesity and rapid aging of the US population have raised concerns of increasing health care costs, with important implications for Medicare. However, little is known about the impact of body mass index (BMI) earlier in life on Medicare expenditures (cardiovascular disease [CVD]–related, diabetes-related, and total) in older age. Objective To examine relationships of BMI in young adulthood and middle age to subsequent health care expenditures at ages 65 years and older. Design, Setting, and Participants Medicare data (1984-2002) were linked with baseline data from the Chicago Heart Association Detection Project in Industry (CHA) (1967-1973) for 9978 men (mean age, 46.0 years) and 7623 women (mean age, 48.4 years) (baseline overall age range, 33 to 64 years) who were free of coronary heart disease, diabetes, and major electrocardiographic abnormalities, were not underweight (BMI <18.5), and were Medicare-eligible (≥65 years) for at least 2 years during 1984-2002. Participants were classified by their baseline BMI as nonoverweight (BMI, 18.5-24.9), overweight (25.0-29.9), obese (30.0-34.9), and severely obese (≥35.0). Main Outcome Measures Cardiovascular disease–related, diabetes-related, and total average annual Medicare charges, and cumulative Medicare charges from age 65 years to death or to age 83 years. Results In multivariate analyses, average annual and cumulative Medicare charges (CVD-related, diabetes-related, and total) were significantly higher by higher baseline BMI for both men and women. Thus, with adjustment for baseline age, race, education, and smoking, total average annual charges for nonoverweight, overweight, obese, and severely obese women were, respectively, $6224, $7653, $9612, and $12 342 (P<.001 for trend); corresponding total cumulative charges were $76 866, $100 959, $125 470, and $174 752 (P<.001 for trend). For nonoverweight, overweight, obese, and severely obese m... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context For women, impact of cardiovascular risk factors measured in young adulthood, particularly favorable (low-risk) profile, on mortality has been difficult to assess due to low short-term death rates. Objective To assess the relationship of baseline coronary risk factor status to mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and all causes in young women. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting and Participants A total of 7302 women aged 18 to 39 years without prior CHD or major electrocardiographic abnormalities screened between 1967 and 1973 for the Chicago Heart Association Detection Project in Industry. Risk groups were defined using national guidelines for values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol level, body mass index, presence of diabetes, and smoking status. Participants were divided into 4 groups: low risk, 0 risk factors high but 1 or more unfavorable, 1 only risk factor high, and 2 or more risk factors high. Main Outcome Measures All-cause mortality, CHD mortality, and CVD mortality; hazard ratio of outcome measures comparing low-risk group with other groups. Results Only 20% met low-risk criteria; 59% had high levels of 1 or more risk factors. During an average follow-up of 31 years, there were 47 CHD deaths, 94 CVD deaths, and 469 deaths from all causes. The age-adjusted CVD death rate per 10,000 person-years was lowest for low-risk women and increased with the number of risk factors, ie, 1.5, 1.7, 5.0, and 9.1 for low-risk; 0, 1, and 2 or more risk factors high, respectively. Multivariate-adjusted CVD mortality hazard ratio for low-risk women was 0.19 (95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.45) compared with women with 2 or more risk factors high. Similar patterns were observed for CHD and all-cause mortality and for both blacks and whites. Conclusion For women with favorable levels for all 5 major risk factors at younger ages, CHD and CVD are rare; long-term and all-cause mortality... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]