ASSOCIATION OF BODY MASS INDEX AND ALL CAUSE MORTALITY IN A TERTIARY REGIONAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
This study is conducted to provide further clinical evidence to determine whether there is a significant association between body mass index and all-cause mortality risk. At present, there are no existing studies done in the Philippines regarding exploring BMI as risk factor for mortality among patients with existing illnesses.

METHODOLOGY
This prospective cohort study was conducted from September 2016 until September 2017. Analysis of BMI and mortality was done and logistic regression was performed to determine confounding variables.

RESULTS
There was a significant association between BMI and mortality. Among the 700 cases, 26% were underweight, 26% overweight, and 21% pre-obese (p<0.0001) while in logistic regression, odds of mortality is higher in patients who were obese class I (OR 10.50 CI 4.25-25.95), obese type II (OR 7.85 CI 3.93-15.70), and underweight (OR 6.76 CI 3.37-13.58). Mortality risk is increased when the patients were cigarette smokers (OR 1.27 CI 1.05-1.53), had upper gastrointestinal bleeding (OR 3.55 CI 2.34-5.38), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 0.30 CI 0.15-0.60), coronary artery disease (OR 0.04 CI 0.02-0.08), pneumonia (OR 1.67 CI 1.12-2.49), and cerebrovascular disease (OR 0.04 CI 0.02-0.08).

CONCLUSION
The patients’ BMI is associated with all-cause mortality. Furthermore, the risk of mortality is increased further by intervening factors of body mass index such as patients’ lifestyle and type of co-existing diseases. Mortality risk among underweight patients is increased by tobacco consumption as well as having related diseases such as upper gastrointestinal bleeding, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pneumonia while obesity mortality risk could occur among those with concurrent coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease.