The Claim

Among patients with structural heart disease undergoing epicardial ventricular tachycardia ablation, higher body mass index is associated with a 2.92-fold increased risk of ventricular tachycardia recurrence during a median 17-month follow-up period.

Source: Determinants of recurrence after epicardial ventricular tachycardia ablation in structural heart disease.

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
46score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Correlation
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Patients with structural heart disease who have a higher body mass index are more likely to experience a return of ventricular tachycardia after epicardial ablation, based on a median follow-up of 17 months.

See the scientific wording

Among patients with structural heart disease undergoing epicardial ventricular tachycardia ablation, higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with a 2.92-fold increased risk of ventricular tachycardia recurrence during a median 17-month follow-up, suggesting adiposity may influence arrhythmia substrate stability or ablation efficacy.

Why this might work

Excess fat around the heart releases chemicals that cause scar tissue to form in the heart muscle, making it harder for the ablation procedure to permanently stop abnormal heart rhythms.

Suggested mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Determinants of recurrence after epicardial ventricular tachycardia ablation in structural heart disease.

    This study found that people with higher body weight were more likely to have dangerous heart rhythms come back after heart surgery to fix them. So, being heavier might make the surgery less effective at stopping the bad heart rhythms.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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