Via practica 1/2025
Cardiovascular risk in people living with obesity under control
Obesity rates are increasing alarmingly year by year. It is well known that (pre)obesity exacerbates traditional cardiovascular risk factors and is also an independent cardiovascular risk factor, which in turn indirectly increases cardiovascular risk. The mechanisms that lead to the development of cardiovascular disease are multiple and not fully understood. However, evidence links obesity and chronic subclinical inflammation, which facilitates the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. (Pre)obesity increases morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease through direct and indirect mechanisms. Conversely, weight reduction is associated with significant health benefits and we now have evidence that more significant weight loss leads to more significant (not only) cardiometabolic benefits. The management of individuals with (pre)obesity is currently changing very rapidly due to new pharmacotherapies coming into clinical practice. If we want to improve cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with (pre)obesity, we have to realize that the intervention must be early, vigorous and long-term. Our goal is to achieve not only safe, effective and sustainable weight reduction, which will lead to a decrease in the prevalence of obesity related comorbidities, but especially to a decrease in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Keywords: (pre)obesity, liraglutide, tirzepatide, obesity-associated cardiovascular diseases, cardiovascular morbidity, cardiovascular mortality
