Association between weight loss and cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in Korea: A nationwide cohort study

Abstract

Aims

While the benefit of weight loss in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is recognized, its association with CVD mortality remains controversial. This study investigates the association between weight loss and the incidence of CVD outcomes.

Methods

This was a 7.2-year retrospective cohort study of 1,020,533 adults aged 40–80 years who underwent at least two general health checkups within a 2-year interval in Korea. Weight was measured by trained examiners at certified hospitals. We used Cox proportional hazards models to examine the association between weight loss and the incidence of CVD outcomes.

Results

Weight loss of more than 3 % was associated with an increased risk of combined CVD events (hazard ratio [HR] for moderate weight loss: 1.24, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.21–1.28; HR for severe weight loss: 1.45, 95 % CI: 1.33–1.57). Weight loss was significantly associated with an increased risk of both nonfatal CVD events and CVD mortality, but regular exercise mitigated the adverse effects on CVD mortality.

Conclusions

Weight loss of more than 3% is associated with an increased risk of a combined CVD events, consistent across most risk factors. However, regular exercise may reduce the adverse effects on CVD mortality, suggesting a potential protective role of physical activity.