WEDNESDAY, March 18, 2026 (NewsDay News) — Excess fat stored around the waist is more strongly associated with the risk of heart failure than body mass index (BMI), according to a study presented at the American Association for Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health 2026 Scientific meeting on March 18, 2026.
Su-Han Chen, of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taipei, Taiwan, and colleagues assessed whether systemic inflammation mediates the link between central obesity and heart failure. The analysis included 1,998 adults with early stage heart failure who participated in the Jackson Heart Study.
The researchers found that during a median follow-up of 6.9 years, elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP; ≥1 mg/L) was associated with shorter heart failure survival. Waist circumference (hazard ratio, 1.31) and waist-to-height ratio (hazard ratio, 1.27) were independent predictors of heart failure, whereas BMI was not in adjusted analyses. hs-CRP significantly accounted for 25.4 percent of the effect of waist circumference and 28.5 percent of the effect of waist-to-height ratio on heart failure risk, both with indirect effects.
“This study helps us understand why some people who appear to be healthy, regardless of their body weight, develop heart failure,” Chen said in a statement. “By monitoring waist size and inflammation, doctors can identify people at higher risk earlier and focus on preventative strategies that reduce the chance of heart failure before symptoms start.”
