Low Perception of Obesity as a Pathological Condition Among Italian Cardiologists

IntroductionObesity is not only an important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor but also a chronic disease with relevant consequences on morbidity and mortality in the general population. According to European guidelines, cardiologists must recognize and treat it properly.AimsTo assess perception of obesity as a modifiable pathological condition and the importance to treat it in a real-world sample of cardiologists and residents in cardiology.MethodsA nationwide, web-based, epidemiological survey on the perception of obesity as a disease and as a modifiable cardiovascular risk factors was conducted in 137 medical doctors (cardiologists and residents in cardiology). Participants filled with their answers a questionnaire of 31 questions about perception of obesity and strategies on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice.ResultsOf 137 individuals enrolled in our survey only 5 (3.6%) reported to measure waist circumference in their clinical practice and only 3 (2.2%) reported to measure waist-to-hip ratio. One-hundred-twenty participants (87.6%) would not prescribe an anti-obesity drug to a patient with grade II obesity. Sixty-eight (49.6%) participants have never read or heard of a clinical trial on obesity. On the other hand, 134 (97.8%) routinely measured blood pressure in their clinical practice, 129 (94.2%) would prescribe a statin for a hypercholesterolemic patient and 132 (96.4%) subjects have read/heard a clinical trial on type 2 diabetes in their life.ConclusionsAlthough obesity is a chronic disease and an important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor such as arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cigarette smoke and diabetes, cardiologists and residents in cardiology substantially underestimate it ignoring that it should be treated as a proper disease.

Automated summary

This study investigated the perception and importance of treating obesity among 137 cardiologists and residents in cardiology. The results showed that most of the participants underestimated the significance of obesity and rarely measured waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio in their clinical practice. They also showed reluctance to prescribe anti-obesity drugs. This highlights a lack of awareness and importance given to obesity as a chronic disease and a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor.