Dataset Information

Body mass index and mortality among Korean elderly in rural communities: Kangwha Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and mortality may differ by ethnicity, but its exact nature remains unclear among Koreans. The study aim was to prospectively examine the association between BMI and mortality in Korean.

Methods

6166 residents (2636 men; 3530 women) of rural communities (Kangwha County, Republic of Korea) aged 55 and above were followed up for deaths from 1985-2008. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

During the 23.8 years of follow-up (an average of 12.5 years in men and 15.7 years in women), 2174 men and 2372 women died. Men with BMI of 21.0-27.4 and women with BMI of 20.0-27.4 had a minimal risk for all-cause mortality. A lower BMI as well as a higher BMI increased the hazard ratio of death. For example, multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios associated with BMI below 16, and with BMI of 27.5 and above, were 2.4 (95% CI = 1.6-3.5) and 1.5 (95% CI = 1.1-1.9) respectively, in men, compared to those with BMI of 23.0-24.9. This reverse J-curve association was maintained among never smokers, and among people with no known chronic diseases. Higher BMI increased vascular mortality, while lower BMI increased deaths from vascular diseases, cancers, and, especially, respiratory diseases. Except for cancers, these associations were generally weaker in women than in men.

Conclusions

A reverse J-curve association between BMI and all-cause mortality may exist. BMI of 21-27.4 (rather than the range suggested by WHO of 18.5-23 for Asians) may be considered a normal range with acceptable risk in Koreans aged 55 and above, and may be used as cut points for interventions. More concern should be given to people with BMI above and below a BMI range with acceptable risk. Further studies are needed to determine ethnicity-specific associations.

SUBMITTER: Hong S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4342154 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Body mass index and mortality among Korean elderly in rural communities: Kangwha Cohort Study.

Hong Seri S Yi Sang-Wook SW Sull Jae Woong JW Hong Jae-Seok JS Jee Sun Ha SH Ohrr Heechoul H

PloS one 20150226 2

<h4>Background</h4>The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and mortality may differ by ethnicity, but its exact nature remains unclear among Koreans. The study aim was to prospectively examine the association between BMI and mortality in Korean.<h4>Methods</h4>6166 residents (2636 men; 3530 women) of rural communities (Kangwha County, Republic of Korea) aged 55 and above were followed up for deaths from 1985-2008. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios were calculated using the Cox prop ...[more]

PMID: 25719567

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundObesity, typically quantified in terms of Body Mass Index (BMI) exceeding threshold values, is considered a leading cause of premature death worldwide. For given body size (BMI), it is recognized that risk is also affected by body shape, particularly as a marker of abdominal fat deposits. Waist circumference (WC) is used as a risk indicator supplementary to BMI, but the high correlation of WC with BMI makes it hard to isolate the added value of WC.Methods and findingsWe considered a USA population sample of 14,105 non-pregnant adults (age ≥ 18) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004 with follow-up for mortality averaging 5 yr (828 deaths). We developed A Body Shape Index (ABSI) based on WC adjusted for height and weight: ABSI ≡ WC/(BMI(2/3)height(1/2)). ABSI had little correlation with height, weight, or BMI. Death rates increased approximately exponentially with above average baseline ABSI (overall regression coefficient of +33% per standard deviation of ABSI [95% confidence interval: +20%-+48%), whereas elevated death rates were found for both high and low values of BMI and WC. 22% (8%-41%) of the population mortality hazard was attributable to high ABSI, compared to 15% (3%-30%) for BMI and 15% (4%-29%) for WC. The association of death rate with ABSI held even when adjusted for other known risk factors including smoking, diabetes, blood pressure, and serum cholesterol. ABSI correlation with mortality hazard held across the range of age, sex, and BMI, and for both white and black ethnicities (but not for Mexican ethnicity), and was not weakened by excluding deaths from the first 3 yr of follow-up.ConclusionsBody shape, as measured by ABSI, appears to be a substantial risk factor for premature mortality in the general population derivable from basic clinical measurements. ABSI expresses the excess risk from high WC in a convenient form that is complementary to BMI and to other known risk factors.

Dataset Information

Body mass index and mortality among Korean elderly in rural communities: Kangwha Cohort Study.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Body mass index and mortality among Korean elderly in rural communities: Kangwha Cohort Study.

Similar Datasets

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