Does Physical Health Differ by Weight Status in Females Ages 55-79 with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)?

Purpose: There is a higher prevalence of poor physical health and obesity in older adult populations and females, but there is limited research of this relationship. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between physical health and weight status in females ages 55 to 79 with coronary heart disease (CHD) in the general population. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for 958 females ages 55-79 years old with CHD from the states of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Ordered logistic regression using combined state data examined the relationship between physical health and weight status, while controlling for the health conditions, mental health, physical activity, smoking status, age, race, education, employment status, and state. Results: The results showed about half of the participants reported poor physical health (40-50%), and the majority reported a BMI classified as obese (45-60%) or overweight (33-40%). Adjusted results indicated that there is an inverse relationship between weight status and physical health. In addition, number of health conditions, mental health, physical activity, and smoking status were all related to physical health in the target population. Conclusion: The results showed that weight status was moderately related to physical health in older females with CHD. These results may generalize to primary care for women 55-79 years old with CHD. In practice, clinicians may expect a moderate proportion of patients in this target population to report poor physical health, and overweight or obese BMI. Because of moderate relations between them, providers should screen for both if presented with symptoms of either. Given the small proportion and relationship between physical health and smoking, clinicians should continue to screen for smoking in this population. In addition, clinicians can expect moderate proportions of good mental health and physical activity. Since these are highly related to physical health, providers should screen for all if presented symptoms of one. Given the results, clinicians should recommend weight loss, smoking cessation, improving mental health, and increasing physical activity to better physical health.