Association between age at onset of overweight and risk of hypertension across adulthood

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between age at onset of overweight and incident hypertension.

Methods: We analysed 4742 participants with new-onset overweight from the Kailuan study between 2006 and 2015 and and 4742 age-matched and sex-matched controls selected randomly from the same cohort but with normal weight. Participants were compared with respect to subsequent risk of hypertension, with sub-HR calculated with the Fine and Gray model, according to age of onset of overweight.

Results: Over a mean follow-up period of 5.17 years, 1642 overweight participants (34.6%) and 1293 normal-weight controls (27.3%) were subsequently diagnosed with hypertension. The median age at onset of overweight was 49.1 years. Compared with normal-weight controls, the multivariable-adjusted sub-HR for hypertension among participants with onset of overweight at 18-39 years of age, 40-49 years of age, 50-59 years of age and ≥60 years of age was 1.38 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.72), 1.27 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.49), 1.23 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.38) and 1.14 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.32), respectively. Onset of overweight in each age range was significantly associated with increased risk of hypertension, except for the group with onset at ≥60 years of age. The risk increased with each decade of attenuation of age at onset, peaking at 18-39 years of age.

Conclusions: Younger age at onset of overweight across adulthood was associated with significantly increased risk of hypertension, with the highest relative risk among participants with onset of overweight at 18-39 years of age.

Keywords: epidemiology; hypertension; risk factors.