Correlation Between Body Mass Index and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients Undergoing Angiography at Tertiary Care Hospital Bahawalpur

Abstract

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally and is increasingly prevalent in South Asian populations. Obesity, as measured by body mass index (BMI), is a recognized cardiovascular risk factor; however, its direct association with the severity of CAD remains debated. Aim and Objective: This study aimed to assess the association between BMI and the severity of CAD among patients undergoing coronary angiography at a tertiary care hospital in Bahawalpur. Methodology: A hospital-based cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted among 179 patients who underwent coronary angiography. Data on demographic variables, comorbidities, and BMI were collected. CAD severity was classified as single-vessel disease (SVD), double-vessel disease (DVD), or triple-vessel disease (TVD). Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, chi-square tests, and Pearson correlation were applied to evaluate the relationship between BMI and CAD severity. Results: The majority of patients were overweight (44.1%) or obese (39.1%). CAD distribution showed 39.1% with SVD, 36.3% with DVD, and 24.6% with TVD. Obese individuals were more likely to present with multi-vessel disease. The chi-square test demonstrated a statistically significant association between BMI and CAD severity (χ² = 38.162, df = 4, p = 0.001). Pearson correlation further indicated a weak but significant positive relationship (r = 0.147, p = 0.050). Conclusion: The study confirms that higher BMI is significantly associated with greater severity of CAD among angiography patients in Bahawalpur. These findings highlight the importance of weight management and lifestyle modification as part of early prevention strategies, particularly in high-risk South Asian populations.

Keywords:

Body Mass Index, Coronary Artery Disease, Obesity, Angiography, Cardiovascular Disease, Risk Factors