Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity and Their Association with Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Attending a Tertiary Care Centre

2026-08-12T16:01:01+0530

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Overweight
and obesity have emerged as major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease because of their association with hypertension,
diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, and chronic inflammation. However, data regarding the proportion of overweight and obese individuals
among patients with AMI in the Indian population remain limited. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity
among patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction and to evaluate their association with major cardiovascular risk factors in
a tertiary care centre. Methods: A hospital-based observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 consecutive patients
diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction. Socio-demographic characteristics, clinical profile, anthropometric measurements, and
cardiovascular risk factors were recorded using a predesigned case record form. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and classified
according to World Health Organization criteria. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and associations between obesity and
cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated using the Chi-square test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The
majority of patients belonged to the 40–59 years age group (60%), with a male predominance (68%). Forty-eight percent of participants
were overweight, while 26% were obese, indicating that 74% of patients had excess body weight. Smoking was the most prevalent
cardiovascular risk factor, followed by hypertension, diabetes mellitus, alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and positive
family history. Although hypertension was more frequent among obese patients, the association between obesity and hypertension was
not statistically significant (χ² = 0.8497, p = 0.3566). Conclusion: Overweight and obesity were highly prevalent among patients with
acute myocardial infarction and were frequently associated with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Early identification of excess body
weight and comprehensive risk factor modification may contribute significantly to reducing the burden of acute myocardial infarction.

Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity and Their Association with Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Attending a Tertiary Care Centre