Prospective cohort study of body mass index and the risk of hospitalisation : findings from 246 361 participants in the 45 and Up Study

Objective: To quantify the risk of hospital admission in relation to fine increments in body mass index (BMI). Design, setting and participants: Population-based prospective cohort study of 246 361 individuals aged ≥45 years, from New South Wales, Australia, recruited from 2006-2009. Self-reported data on BMI and potential confounding/mediating factors were linked to hospital admission and death data. Main outcomes: Cox-models were used to estimate the relative risk (RR) of incident all-cause and diagnosis-specific hospital admission (excluding same day) in relation to BMI. Results: There were 61 583 incident hospitalisations over 479 769 person-years (py) of observation. In men, hospitalisation rates were lowest for BMI 20-<25 kgm-2 (age-standardised rate:120/1000 py) and in women for BMI 18.5-<25 kgm -2 (102/1000 py); above these levels, rates increased steadily with increasing BMI; rates were 203 and 183/1000 py, for men and women with BMI 35-50 kgm-2, respectively. This pattern was observed regardless of baseline health status, smoking status and physical activity levels. After adjustment, the RRs (95% confidence interval) per 1 kgm-2 increase in BMI from ≥20 kgm-2 were 1.04(1.03-1.04) for men and 1.04(1.04-1.05) for women aged 45-64; corresponding RRs for ages 65-79 were 1.03(1.02-1.03) and 1.03(1.03-1.04); and for ages≥80 years, 1.01(1.00-1.01) and 1.01(1.01-1.02). Hospitalisation risks were elevated for a large range of diagnoses, including a number of circulatory, digestive, musculoskeletal and respiratory diseases, while being protective for just two-fracture and hernia. Conclusions: Above normal BMI, the RR of hospitalisation increases with even small increases in BMI, less so in the elderly. Even a small downward shift in BMI, among those who are overweight not just those who are obese, could result in a substantial reduction in the risk of hospitalisation.