Association between obesity and coronary atherosclerosis and vascular remodeling

The association between obesity and early coronary atherosclerosis and vasc ular remodeling was assessed in 101 patients. Vessel area, plaque a-rea, ma ximal plaque thickness, and percent area stenosis were significantly greate r in obese patients (body mass index [BMI] > 30) than in overweight patient s (BMI between 25 and 30) and normal patients (BMI less than or equal to 25 ), and remained significant after adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors, whereas lumen area was similar between the latter 2 groups. This s tudy demonstrates that obesity is an independent risk factor for early coro nary atherosclerosis.