Exploring the Obesity Paradox: Outcomes in Cardiac Arrest Patients with Obesity

Abstract

IntroductionThe obesity paradox is an unexpected phenomenon where obesity seems to provide a protective effect, resulting in better survival rates for specific patient groups. This study investigates whether the obesity paradox exists in patients admitted for cardiac arrest in the United States. MethodsWe conducted a study using the 2020 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify all patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of cardiac arrest. We then singled out those with an ICD-10 code for obesity. To analyze associations, we employed logistic and linear regression, adjusting for potential confounders. A 2-tailed p-value of 0.05 was considered significant for our findings. ResultsUsing the 2020 National Inpatient Sample (NIS), we identified 13,065 cardiac arrest-related hospitalizations, with 1,450 (11.1%) involving obese patients. Results showed that obese patients with cardiac arrest experienced reduced in-hospital mortality (aOR 0.61, 95% CI 0.46 – 0.80), compared to non-obese patients. ConclusionIn conclusion, our findings indicate that obese patients with cardiac arrest had significantly lower odds of in-hospital mortality compared to non-obese patients. To better understand the obesity paradox and its impact on clinical outcomes for patients with cardiac arrest, further large-scale, methodologically robust studies are needed. These investigations will help uncover the underlying mechanisms and reasons for the persistence of the paradox, leading to improved patient care strategies.