More people are dying from pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), and this could be associated with parallel rises in obesity rates, researchers from the University of Adelaide Roger Byard wrote in the Medical Journal of Australia
Professor Roger Byard and co-author explain that while focus should continue on illnesses and conditions linked to obesity, such as cardiac disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), and diabetes mellitus, doctors should also concentrate on PTE.
The researchers gathered data on the number of sudden deaths in South Australia subject to coronial autopsies from 2000 to 2009; they selected cases where the people died from PTE.
They noticed that the death rate from PTE rose gradually over time, despite annual fluctuations, from 3.59% to 3.71% (2000-2004 and 2005-2009 respectively).
The average BMI (body mass index) of those who died of PTE was 29.6, compared to 25.9 among people in the control groups; those who died from something else.
Byard said:
“If PTE is conclusively found to be associated with BMI, there may be significant effects on hospital diagnostic services, coronial forensic investigation units and public expenditure in the future.
Source
Medical Journal of Australia
Written by Christian Nordqvist