Cardio-oncology & otherCohort study
Beyond body mass index (BMI): the predictive value of body roundness index for cardiovascular mortality and related disparities: a national cohort study of US adults
- Prospective cohort study
- national cohort
- NHANES 1999-2018
- weighted Cox proportional hazards
- restricted cubic spline
Authors' conclusion
Higher BRI is independently associated with increased cardiovascular mortality, particularly among middle aged adults and those with normal BMI, underscoring its potential as a practical, noninvasive tool for cardiovascular risk stratification.
Study context
- Population
- US adults aged >20 years in NHANES 1999–2018 without prior CVD or cancer883 CV deaths
- Participants
- 31,351 adults
- Exposure
- Highest vs middle Body Roundness Index (BRI) quintile
- Outcome
- CV mortality
- Follow-up
- Median 10.1 years (IQR: 5.3-14.9 years)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Hazard ratio
1.54
95% CI 1.13–2.08
P = 0.006
Q5 vs Q3
HR 1.54 (95% CI 1.13–2.08); P = 0.006
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
CV mortality, normal BMI (subgroup)
- Risk remained high even among those with normal BMI
Shape of BRI–CV mortality association (restricted cubic spline (RCS))
- Modest U-shaped association
CV mortality by age and education (subgroups)
- Stronger effects among middle-aged adults (45-64 years) and those with higher educational attainment
Original publication
Beyond BMI: the predictive value of body roundness index for cardiovascular mortality and related disparities: a national cohort study of US adults. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 30 January 2026. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwag055
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it