 |
 |

Relief of Cardiorespiratory Symptoms and Increased Physical Activity After Surgically Induced Weight Loss
Results From the Swedish Obese Subjects Study
Kristjan Karason, MD, PhD;
Anna Karin Lindroos, PhD;
Kaj Stenlöf, MD, PhD;
Lars Sjöström, MD, PhD
Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:1797-1802.
Background Obese people frequently suffer from shortness of breath and chest discomfort on exertion, and they often have a sedentary lifestyle. In the present study of patients with severe obesity, we investigated the effects of surgically induced weight loss on cardiorespiratory symptoms and leisure-time physical activity.
Methods The Swedish Obese Subjects study is an ongoing intervention trial of obesity consisting of 1 surgically treated group and 1 matched control group. Information on smoking habits, hypertension, diabetes, and sleep apnea was obtained from 1210 surgical cases and 1099 controls who were observed for 2 years. Patients were also asked about symptoms of breathlessness and chest pain and their levels of leisure-time physical activity.
Results The surgically treated group displayed a mean weight loss of 28 kg (23%) compared with the control group in which the average weight remained unchanged (P<.001). The rates of hypertension, diabetes, and apneas during sleep decreased in surgical cases compared with controls (P<.001), while smoking habits remained largely the same. The surgical group also displayed highly significant improvements in dyspnea and chest pain and increases in physical activity compared with the control group (P<.001). The odds ratio for self-reported breathlessness, chest discomfort, or sedentary behavior after 2 years decreased progressively with the degree of weight loss. Furthermore, patients who recovered from apneas during sleep reduced their odds of having dyspnea and chest discomfort at follow-up, independent of changes in weight.
Conclusions Surgically induced weight loss in patients with severe obesity is associated with a marked relief in symptoms of dyspnea and chest pain and promotes increased leisure-time physical activity. Sleep-disordered breathing may be involved in the pathophysiology of breathlessness and chest discomfort in obese subjects.
From the Departments of Cardiology (Dr Karason) and Medicine (Drs Lindroos, Stenlöf, and Sjöström), Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
RELATED ARTICLE
Archives of Internal Medicine Reader's Choice: Continuing Medical Education
Arch Intern Med. 2000;160(12):1879-1880.
FULL TEXT
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
 |
Cardiac Remodeling in Obesity
Abel et al.
Physiol. Rev. 2008;88:389-419.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Abdominal Fat and Sleep Apnea: The chicken or the egg?
Pillar and Shehadeh
Diabetes Care 2008;31:S303-S309.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Obesity and cardiovascular disease: pathophysiology, evaluation, and effect of weight loss.
Poirier et al.
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio. 2006;26:968-976.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease: Pathophysiology, Evaluation, and Effect of Weight Loss: An Update of the 1997 American Heart Association Scientific Statement on Obesity and Heart Disease From the Obesity Committee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism
Poirier et al.
Circulation 2006;113:898-918.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Progression and Regression of Sleep-Disordered Breathing With Changes in Weight: The Sleep Heart Health Study
Newman et al.
Arch Intern Med 2005;165:2408-2413.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in Morbid Obesity: Effects of Intragastric Balloon
Busetto et al.
Chest 2005;128:618-623.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Pharmacologic and Surgical Management of Obesity in Primary Care: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians
Snow et al.
ANN INTERN MED 2005;142:525-531.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Meta-Analysis: Surgical Treatment of Obesity
Maggard et al.
ANN INTERN MED 2005;142:547-559.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Diagnosis and Treatment of Obesity in Adults: An Applied Evidence-Based Review
Orzano and Scott
J Am Board Fam Med 2004;17:359-369.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Effects of Obesity Surgery on Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
Greenway et al.
Arch Surg 2002;137:1109-1117.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Endocrine Dysfunction in Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Review with Special Reference to GH
Burman et al.
Endocr. Rev. 2001;22:787-799.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
American Diabetes Association 60th Scientific Sessions, 2000: Cardiovascular disease in diabetes
Bloomgarden
Diabetes Care 2001;24:399-404.
FULL TEXT
|