AUTHOR=Pu Shoufang , Yin Lidan , Wen Bi , He Juan 

TITLE=The Association of Body Mass Index With the Risk of Pulmonary Hypertension in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.680223

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2021.680223

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Backgrounds</title><p>Findings regarding the association of body mass index (BMI) with pulmonary hypertension (PH) are conflicting, and there is no systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the results. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess this relationship.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>To detect the relevant articles, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched until February 2021. Included essays were pooled using a random-effect model. Cochrane <italic>Q</italic>-test and I<sup>2</sup>-test was applied to assess between-study heterogeneity.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Fourteen articles (eight cross-sectional and four cohort studies) were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis of comparing highest vs. lowest BMI categories did not indicate a significant association between BMI and PH (Summary Effect Estimate: 1.59 (95% CI: 0.50, 5.07, I<sup>2</sup> = 92.3). Furthermore, The summary risk estimate for a one-unit increment in BMI was 1.01 (95 % CI: 0.99, 1.03), with high heterogeneity, I<sup>2</sup> = 73.5 %, P heterogeneity &lt;0.001). Subgroup analysis showed significant positive association between BMI and the risk of PH in studies controlled for cofounders, and studies with higher sample sizes (≥2,000).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>There is no significant association between BMI and risk of pulmonary hypertension. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.</p></sec>