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. 2017 Sep-Oct;46(5):347-350.
doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2017.05.010. Epub 2017 Jun 23.

Prevalence of cardiovascular and respiratory complications following trauma in patients with obesity

Teresa Bell  1 , Samantha Stokes  2 , Peter C Jenkins  2 , LeRanna Hatcher  2 , Alison M Fecher  2
Affiliations

Prevalence of cardiovascular and respiratory complications following trauma in patients with obesity

Teresa Bell et al. Heart Lung. 2017 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Background: It is generally accepted that obesity puts patients at an increased risk for cardiovascular and respiratory complications after surgical procedures. However, in the setting of trauma, there have been mixed findings in regards to whether obesity increases the risk for additional complications.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify whether obese patients suffer an increased risk of cardiac and respiratory complications following traumatic injury.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 275,393 patients was conducted using the 2012 National Trauma Data Bank. Hierarchical regression modeling was performed to determine the probability of experiencing a cardiac or respiratory complication.

Results: Patients with obesity were at a significantly higher risk of cardiac and respiratory complications compared to patients without obesity [OR: 1.81; CI: 1.72-1.91]. Prevalence of cardiovascular and respiratory complications for patients with obesity was 12.6% compared to 5.2% for non-obese patients.

Conclusions: Obesity is predictive of an increased risk for cardiovascular and respiratory complications following trauma.

Keywords: Complication; Morbidity; Obesity; Post-operative care; Trauma.

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Conflict of interest statement

There was no conflict of interest for this study.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study Sample Exclusions
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage of cardiac and respiratory complications for persons with obesity versus without. ARDS = Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, DVT = Deep Vein Thrombosis, MI = Myocardial Infarction
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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