Obesity paradox in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A nationwide retrospective observational study.

Introduction: The prevalence of obesity in the United States is high, with over 35% of the population classified as obese. Obesity, along with the lifestyle factors contributing to it, is considered a major risk factor for heart disease. However, research studies have reported controversial findings regarding its impact on morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data was obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from January 2016 to December 2020. The study included adult patients with a principal discharge diagnosis of NSTEMI who underwent PCI during hospitalization. They were divided into obese (BMI > 30) and not obese (BMI < 30). The primary outcome was inpatient mortality. Secondary outcomes were cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, arrhythmias, and acute renal failure, as well as the need for transfusions, pressors, ventilators, and ECMO. Results: We analyzed 448,424 hospitalizations for NSTEMI, of which 172,665 patients underwent PCI. Among these, 39,548 (22.9%) were obese (BMI >30). Obesity was associated with lower in-hospital mortality compared to non-obese patients (1.2% vs. 1.8%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.74-0.90; Conclusion: The "obesity paradox" suggests that despite obesity's role in cardiovascular disease risk, individuals with obesity may have a survival advantage during acute cardiovascular events and certain surgeries. Our study aligns with these findings, underscoring the need for further research to comprehend the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.