Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41276942›Full record

ArticleJournal of internal medicine2026

High BMI and low cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescence are associated with increased risk of severe bacterial infections in adulthood.

Birger Sourander, Kirsten Mehlig, Fredrik Olsen, Martin Lindgren, Ulrika Snygg-Martin, Magnus Gisslén, Annika Rosengren, Maria Åberg, Josefina Robertson

Abstract read
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Article in Journal of internal medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Birger SouranderDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-4822-5642
Kirsten MehligSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Fredrik OlsenDepartment of Anesthesiology and Intensive care, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Martin LindgrenDepartment of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0001-8567-0422
Ulrika Snygg-MartinDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Magnus GisslénDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Annika RosengrenDepartment of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Maria ÅbergGeneral Practice/Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Josefina RobertsonDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Funding

ALF agreement ALFGBG-1005368ALF agreement ALFGBG-1005848ALF agreement ALFGBG-1006439ALF agreement ALFGBG-942707ALF agreement ALFGBG-971608the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation 2024-0678the Swedish Research Council 2023-02144
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundObesity and poor physical fitness in youth are established risk factors for future cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, their potential impact on the risk of severe bacterial infections later in life remains unclear.

methodsThis register-based cohort study followed almost 1 million Swedish conscripts (mean age 18.3 years) over a period of three decades. Measured body mass index (BMI) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) at conscription to military service served as exposure variables, whereas outcomes included morbidity and mortality attributed to bacterial pneumonia, sepsis, and infective endocarditis.

resultsHigh BMI and low CRF in late adolescence were strongly associated with an increased risk of bacterial pneumonia, sepsis, and infective endocarditis in adulthood. The highest risk was seen among the obese for sepsis (hazard ratio [HR] 3.1 (2.7-3.5)), with elevated hazards observed already at high-normal BMI levels (22.5-25 kg/m

conclusionHigh BMI and low CRF in adolescence are associated with an increased risk of contracting and dying of severe bacterial infections later in life. Hence, addressing these preventable risk factors in youths may serve as an effective measure to improve their long-term health.

Indexed as

Bacterial InfectionsBody Mass IndexCardiorespiratory FitnessAdolescentAdultCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMilitary PersonnelObesityPneumonia, BacterialRegistriesRisk FactorsSepsisSwedenbacterial pneumoniabody mass indexcardiorespiratory fitnessendocarditisobesitysepsis

Identifiers

PMID41276942
PMCPMC12678222

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.