Through research and research-based knowledge, cardiovascular disease mortality has decreased by 43 percent since the turn of the millennium. This is stated by the Hjärt-Lungfonden in a press release.
But the positive development for heart failure goes much slower than for other cardiovascular diseases. A new study, supported by the Heart Lung Foundation, shows a clear link between obesity and the risk of heart failure in young women.
Clear connection- This is the first time obesity has so clearly been linked to heart failure in young women. Since obesity continues to increase among young people in Sweden, it is a potentially ticking bomb if these groups bring their overweight into older years, since heart failure is common, says Annika Rosengren, professor at the Sahlgrenska Academy in Gothenburg.
The study is based on data from more than 1.3 million women aged 18-45. These have been followed up against the patient register to see how many who later in life suffered heart failure.
The results show that being overweight is the clearest risk factor. At BMI 21, the risk of heart failure is lowest, only one in about 700 is affected. In severe obesity (BMI over 35), the risk of heart failure has quadrupled. This is stated by the Heart Lung Foundation.
Today, almost 33,000 women aged 16–44 years live in Västra Götaland with obesity, that is, a BMI of 30 and up. Over the past ten years, this proportion has increased from 8 to 11 percent across the country.