The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) was an observational cohort that studied 6,814 individuals of various ethnic groups who were free from cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study’s objective was to investigate the relationship between obesity, as estimated by body mass index, and CVD risk factors such as coronary artery calcium (CAC), carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), and left ventricular hypertrophy. Compared to women with a normal body weight (BMI30.0 kg/m2) white women, obese African American women, and obese Hispanic women (but not obese Chinese American women) had an increased hypertension and glucose intolerance risk. Independent of ethnicity, obese men had greater odds of having hypertension and glucose intolerance. After adjusting for age and other underlying CVD risk factors, obese participants were at moderately increased risk of having a CAC score >100 [OR=1.12 (95% CI, 1.00-1.25)], an elevated IMT [OR=1.09 (95% CI, 1.00-1.19)], and an elevated high left ventricular mass [OR=2.30 (95% CI, 2.08-2.54)]. Based on these results, MESA investigators concluded that the rise of obesity prevalence may have severe consequences on vascular disease burden and health care costs.
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