The Cardiology Society of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Socerj) launched the Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease manual, aimed at doctors in the public health network. The publication is unprecedented and was launched during the 41st Socerj Cardiology Congress. The director of the Hypertension Department at Socerj and one of the manual’s editors, Fábio de Souza said that the manual provides practical content, especially for doctors at the beginning of their training, on obesity, which is taking on epidemic proportions in the country.
There are now a large number of people living with obesity and, therefore, it is necessary that, in addition to cardiologists, other medical professionals be aware of this and be able to provide information on the issue “in the most digestible way possible”, he stated. Souza.
The most recent data, collected from 2006 to 2022, indicates that the rate of obesity in adults in Brazil practically doubled during this period. In 2006, the rate was 11% of the population and, in 2022, it rose to 22%, which means one fifth of the Brazilian population. “This is quite robust and constitutes a health risk. It’s not just an aesthetic issue,” said the cardiologist.
He highlighted that the volume of scientific information grows exponentially and that it is important to have manuals like Socerj’s, with more accessible, more direct language and more practical content. “It is a form of updating, especially for medical professionals who work in the Unified Health System [SUS] and for those who are at the beginning of their careers.”
Souza highlighted the importance of the manual as a data updater for the treatment of obesity, considering that one in five obese Brazilians may see an increased risk of cardiovascular disease or suffer from cardiovascular disease at an earlier age. And if there are other associated risk factors, cardiovascular diseases can be even more serious.
Chapters
The manual was assembled into chapters, written by professionals who deal with epidemiological cases, clinical assessment of obese patients; pharmacological treatment, medicines given to treat obesity; endocrinology and non-pharmacological treatment, which involves physical activity and nutrition. The publication also addresses metabolic surgery and its main indications.
Another chapter deals with liver disease associated with obesity and the accumulation of fat in the liver, which has all the importance of associated cardiovascular risk. The main focus is cardiovascular disease, the risk of which is increased by obesity. “Obesity increases this risk in itself”, emphasized the doctor.
Fábio de Souza denied that there is prejudice against patients who are overweight. “It’s not that. The objective is to treat obesity as a disease, because there is very robust data in relation to this. It is known that being overweight, with a very high body mass index (BMI), in itself, increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and the treatment of patients who already have these diseases becomes more difficult. The social impact is huge for the lives of patients and also for us, as a society.”
The doctor also stated that the SUS must be prepared for the problem of increasing obesity in the country, modifying the dynamics of care for these patients and bringing the issue to the discussion table.
During the congress, a free course on the manual will be offered to doctors, residents and students registered for the event, Souza said.
The Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease manual will be available on the congress website. (With information from Agência Brasil)
