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Overweight: A Protective Factor against Comorbidity in the Elderly

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  • Giovanni Mario Pes

    (Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Sperimentali, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
    Sardinia Longevity Blue Zone Observatory, I-08040 Ogliastra, Italy)

  • Giulia Licheri

    (Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Sperimentali, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Sara Soro

    (Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Sperimentali, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Nunzio Pio Longo

    (Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Sperimentali, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Roberta Salis

    (Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Sperimentali, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Giulia Tomassini

    (Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Sperimentali, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Caterina Niolu

    (Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Sperimentali, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Alessandra Errigo

    (Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Maria Pina Dore

    (Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Sperimentali, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
    Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) categories and comorbidity in 9067 patients (age range 18‒94 years) who underwent upper digestive endoscopy in Northern Sardinia, Italy. The majority of participants (62.2%) had a BMI under 25 kg/m 2 , overweight was detected in 30.4%, and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) in 7.4% of patients. The most frequent illness recorded was hypertension followed by cardiovascular and liver disease. The multivariate analysis, after adjusting for sex, residence, marital status, smoking habits, occupation and hospitalization detected an association between comorbidity and aging that was statistically significant and progressive. Among patients younger than 60 years ( n = 5612) the comorbidity risk was higher for BMI ranging 27.5‒29.9 kg/m 2 compared with BMI 25.0‒27.4 kg/m 2 (RR = 1.38; 95% CI 1.27‒1.50 vs. RR = 0.86; 95% CI 0.81‒0.90). In patients older than 60 years ( n = 3455) the risk was lower for a BMI in the range 27.5–29.9 kg/m 2 compared with a BMI in the range 25.0–27.4 kg/m 2 (RR = 1.11; 95% CI 1.05‒1.18 vs. RR = 1.28; 95% CI 1.21‒1.35). These results suggest that being moderately overweight is a marker of a healthy aging process and might protect, at least in part, against comorbidity. However, further research is needed to better understand this unexpected finding.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Mario Pes & Giulia Licheri & Sara Soro & Nunzio Pio Longo & Roberta Salis & Giulia Tomassini & Caterina Niolu & Alessandra Errigo & Maria Pina Dore, 2019. "Overweight: A Protective Factor against Comorbidity in the Elderly," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-10, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:19:p:3656-:d:271882
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lili Wang & Lei Si & Fiona Cocker & Andrew J. Palmer & Kristy Sanderson, 2018. "A Systematic Review of Cost-of-Illness Studies of Multimorbidity," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 15-29, February.
    2. Karolina Agur & Gary McLean & Kate Hunt & Bruce Guthrie & Stewart W. Mercer, 2016. "How Does Sex Influence Multimorbidity? Secondary Analysis of a Large Nationally Representative Dataset," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-12, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ming-Hsun Lin & Chun-Yung Chang & Der-Min Wu & Chieh-Hua Lu & Che-Chun Kuo & Nain-Feng Chu, 2021. "Relationship of Multimorbidity, Obesity Status, and Grip Strength among Older Adults in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-11, July.
    2. Jia Feng & Xiao-min Mu & Ling-ling Ma & Wei Wang, 2020. "Comorbidity Patterns of Older Lung Cancer Patients in Northeast China: An Association Rules Analysis Based on Electronic Medical Records," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-13, December.

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