Weight and Cardiac Health in Middle Aged People in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

<i>Method:</i> We examined how body weight affects cardiovascular health in adults aged 30–50 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, by analyzing de-identified records from hospitals (June 2022–March 2025). We calculated body mass index (BMI) and classified patients by WHO Asian criteria: normal (18.5–22.9), overweight (23.0–27.4), and obese (≥27.5 kg/m<sup>2</sup>). We recorded hypertension (HTN), coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI), and arrhythmia, and applied statistical tests (ANOVA, logistic regression) to derive odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). <i>Results:</i> Mean age was 39.8 years (SD 5.7); 48% were female; 200 were normal-weight, 178 overweight, and 122 obese. Hypertension was present in 20.0%, 39.9%, and 58.2% of the normal, overweight, and obese participants (p<0.001). CAD rates were 4.5%, 6.7%, and 22.1%; MI rates were 2.5%, 9.6%, and 15.6% in the normal, overweight, and obese groups (p<0.001). Systolic BP rose from 120 mmHg (normal) to 139 mmHg (obese) (p<0.001), and BMI strongly correlated with BP (r≈0.50, p<0.001). In adjusted models, overweight vs normal had OR=2.70 (95% CI 1.61–4.52) and obese vs normal had OR=5.75 (3.34–9.91) for HTN (p<0.001). For CAD, obese vs normal had OR=6.14 (2.77–13.61, p<0.001); for MI, overweight had OR≈4.14 (1.04–16.47) and obese OR≈7.10 (2.69–18.70). Obesity also increased arrhythmia odds (OR≈2.79 [1.16–6.71]). ROC AUCs were 0.79 for both HTN (CI 0.74–0.84) and CAD (CI 0.72–0.86). <i>Conclusion:</i> Excess body weight is a major problem directly linked to high blood pressure and serious heart conditions, reflecting a global pattern. Preventing obesity should be a priority to reduce the growing heart disease burden in the region.

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Journal
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Published
2025-10-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.11648/j.plm.20250902.12
Primary Topic
Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
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article
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article

Weight and Cardiac Health in Middle Aged People in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Saleem Jan, A G Ahmad, Muhammad Attiq Rehman, Rizwan Ullah et al.
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
article

Weight and Cardiac Health in Middle Aged People in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Saleem Jan, A G Ahmad, Muhammad Attiq Rehman, Rizwan Ullah, Mohsin Ali, Ziad Khan, Syed Mahmood Shah, Syed Aqeel Ahmad, Sultan Nawaz, Kashif Rasool, Shayan Yousafzai, Shahid Bacha
article en

Abstract

<i>Method:</i> We examined how body weight affects cardiovascular health in adults aged 30–50 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, by analyzing de-identified records from hospitals (June 2022–March 2025). We calculated body mass index (BMI) and classified patients by WHO Asian criteria: normal (18.5–22.9), overweight (23.0–27.4), and obese (≥27.5 kg/m<sup>2</sup>). We recorded hypertension (HTN), coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI), and arrhythmia, and applied statistical tests (ANOVA, logistic regression) to derive odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). <i>Results:</i> Mean age was 39.8 years (SD 5.7); 48% were female; 200 were normal-weight, 178 overweight, and 122 obese. Hypertension was present in 20.0%, 39.9%, and 58.2% of the normal, overweight, and obese participants (p<0.001). CAD rates were 4.5%, 6.7%, and 22.1%; MI rates were 2.5%, 9.6%, and 15.6% in the normal, overweight, and obese groups (p<0.001). Systolic BP rose from 120 mmHg (normal) to 139 mmHg (obese) (p<0.001), and BMI strongly correlated with BP (r≈0.50, p<0.001). In adjusted models, overweight vs normal had OR=2.70 (95% CI 1.61–4.52) and obese vs normal had OR=5.75 (3.34–9.91) for HTN (p<0.001). For CAD, obese vs normal had OR=6.14 (2.77–13.61, p<0.001); for MI, overweight had OR≈4.14 (1.04–16.47) and obese OR≈7.10 (2.69–18.70). Obesity also increased arrhythmia odds (OR≈2.79 [1.16–6.71]). ROC AUCs were 0.79 for both HTN (CI 0.74–0.84) and CAD (CI 0.72–0.86). <i>Conclusion:</i> Excess body weight is a major problem directly linked to high blood pressure and serious heart conditions, reflecting a global pattern. Preventing obesity should be a priority to reduce the growing heart disease burden in the region.

Pathology and Laboratory MedicineVol. 9(2)
Khyber Medical University (PK), Saidu Teaching Hospital (PK), University of Science and Technology Bannu (PK)
Openalex Percentile: Top 57%
Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
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