Prevalence of obesity among adult patients with congenital heart disease: A population-based study

INTRODUCTION: Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are at increased risk of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Obesity is an independent risk factor for a number of cardiometabolic diseases including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in healthy individuals; however, data on obesity in ACHD are limited. This study examined the prevalence of obesity in ACHD and the possible correlation between obesity and ACHD lesion severity.

METHODS: From East Denmark, 7157 patients with ACHD were included and compared to 29,377 age- and sex-matched controls from the Copenhagen General Population Study.

RESULTS: Based on measured height and weight, ACHD patients versus controls had reduced prevalence of overweight (33 % versus 41 %, p < 0.001). Obesity was equally prevalent between ACHD patients and controls (16 % versus 15 %, p = 0.08), while severe obesity was more prevalent in ACHD patients versus controls (2 % versus 1 %, p < 0.001). However, in ACHD patients aged 18-59 years, a higher prevalence of obesity and severe obesity combined was observed compared to controls (odds ratio: 1.17 [95 % CI: 1.07-1.28]). Only ACHD patients with mild lesions were more often obese or severely obese compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS: ACHD patients and controls from the background population had a similar prevalence of obesity, however ACHD patients were obese at a relatively younger age. Across ACHD severities, only adult patients with mild congenital heart disease were more often obese. These findings highlight the necessity of early weight management in ACHD patients.