Profile of Obesity and Comorbidities in Elderly Patients with Heart Failure

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In Romania, robust data about the prevalence of obesity and heart failure are lacking, especially in the elderly; therefore, this study aims to analyze the profile of overweight and obese patients aged >65 years admitted to a Romanian hospital for worsening heart failure, and also their risk in the presence of comorbidities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 126 consecutive elderly patients with overweight and obesity admitted to a Romanian hospital for worsening heart failure. They were divided into three groups: with reduced (<40%) – HFrEF, mid-range (40–49%) – HFmrEF and preserved (≥50%) ejection fraction – HFpEF. Obesity was defined according to the body mass index (BMI) status: obesity, ≥30 kg/m(2); overweight, 25–29.9 kg/m(2). The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was calculated to evaluate the severity of comorbidity, with a score ranging from 2 (only heart failure present and age >65 years) to 30 (extensive comorbidity). RESULTS: NT-proBNP values are negatively correlated with BMI only in patients with HFpEF. Creatinine clearance (p=0.0166), the presence of atrial fibrillation (p=0.0095) and NYHA functional class were independent predictors of increased NT-proBNP values. CCI score is negatively correlated with NT-proBNP values in patients with HFmrEF (r= −0.448, p=0.009) and HFpEF (r= −0.273, p=0.043). The CCI risk was not significantly different between the three groups. CONCLUSION: Elderly heart failure patients with overweight or obesity have particular characteristics in terms of NT-proBNP values and presence of comorbidities. In the studied population, NT-proBNP levels were strongly influenced by renal function, NYHA functional class, the presence of atrial fibrillation and left ventricular ejection fraction.