Obesity in Primary Care: The Comorbidities

Obesity is directly responsible for more than 100 medical problems and worsens the prognosis of cardiac, pulmonary, and oncological diseases. In many circumstances, efforts are made in treating the consequences of obesity more than treating the primary cause.

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Categories of comorbidities include cardiovascular, endocrine and reproductive, GI, musculoskeletal, neurological, pulmonary, psychosocial, and renal and genitourinary. In addition, various types of cancer are associated with obesity.

Physicians might use a checklist to help them remember the most prevalent diseases secondary to obesity.

They might include the following:

Cardiovascular

• Hypertension

• Coronary arteries disease

• Congestive heart failure           

• Varicose veins

• Thromboembolic events

Endocrine and reproductive

• Prediabetes/ type 2 diabetes

• Dyslipidemia

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome/hyperandrogenemia

• Male hypogonadism

• Infertility

Next: GI, Integument, Musculoskeletal, and Other Comorbidities

Gastrointestinal Comorbidities of Obesity

• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/steatohepatitis

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease

• Hernias

• Cholelithiasis

Integument

• Venous stasis ulcers

• Cellulitis

• Intertrigo

• Acanthosis nigricans

Musculoskeletal

• Osteoarthritis

• Gout

• Immobility

Neurological

• Stroke

• Pseudotumor cerebri

• Nerve entrapment

Pulmonary

• Obstructive sleep apnea

• Asthma

• Pickwickian syndrome

Next: Psychosocial, Renal and Genitourinary, and Cancer

Psychosocial Comorbidities of Obesity

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Low self-esteem

• Increased work absenteeism

• Negative self-external perception

• Isolation

Renal and genitourinary

• Nephrolithiasis

• Glomerulopathy

• Renal insufficiency

• Urinary stress incontinence

• Pelvic prolapse

• Erectile dysfunction

Cancer

Also, various types of cancer are associated with obesity: postmenopausal breast cancer; colon, esophageal, stomach, pancreatic, kidney, gallbladder, and brain cancer; leukemia; non-Hodgkin lymphoma; multiple myeloma; and liver, cervical, ovarian, prostate, bladder and thyroid cancer.

Next in this Special Report: Lifestyle factors, weight loss strategies, and medications

For previous sections, please see below:

Obesity in Primary Care: 12 Big Questions

Obesity in Primary Care: Making the Diagnosis

Obesity in Primary Care: 12 Big Questions

Obesity in Primary Care: Making the Diagnosis

- See more at: http://www.patientcareonline.com/special-report/obesity-primary-care-referrals-and-surgery/page/0/2#sthash.Xv236hfi.dpuf