A series of studies, conducted by Canada-based University of Alberta researchers, show obesity increases risk of infection for patients undergoing heart bypass surgery 30 days after surgery.
The study focuses on 56,722 patients. Researchers examined the link between body mass index and outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention.
Researchers found patients with "BMI greater than 30 were 1.9 times more likely to report infections after bypass surgery," as compared to patients with normal BMI, Tasuku Terada, a rehabilitation science postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Alberta, said.
Additionally, the research team found that 88 percent of patients who underwent PCI were classified as obese versus 55 percent of patients who underwent CABG surgery. It is possible the high risk of infection following CABG surgery may be why obese patients are more likely to receive PCI.
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