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To the Editor: In their study of midlife body mass index, Dr Yan and colleagues¹ found that obesity in middle-aged persons with or without cardiovascular risk factors predicted a high risk of hospitalization and mortality from coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes beginning at age 65 years. However, they did not address whether this was also a risk factor for total mortality. That analysis would be valuable to more fully understand the importance of obesity for long-term health.

Financial Disclosures: None reported.

Huai Yong Cheng, MD, MPH
hyc2105@columbia.edu
Department of Medicine
Columbia University Medical Center
New York, NY

1. Yan LL, Daviglus ML, Liu K, et al. Midlife body mass index and hospitalization and mortality in old age. JAMA. 2006;295:190-198. FREE FULL TEXT

Letters Section Editor: Robert M. Golub, MD, Senior Editor.

JAMA. 2006;295:1772.

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