Obesity-and lipid-related indices as a risk factor of hypertension in mid-aged and elderly Chinese: a cross-sectional study

BMC Geriatr. 2024 Jan 20;24(1):77. doi: 10.1186/s12877-023-04650-2.

Abstract

Objective: Hypertension refers to the persistent elevation of blood pressure above the established normal range, resulting in increased pressure exerted by blood on the walls of blood vessels during its circulation. Recent studies have identified significant associations between obesity and lipid-related indices, as well as hypertension. Nevertheless, these studies have yet to comprehensively examine the correlation between the two variables. Our objective is to identify the fat and lipid-related indices that have the strongest correlation with hypertension.

Method: There was a total of 9488 elderly and middle-aged Chinese citizens who participated in this investigation. The participants in this research were separated into distinct gender cohorts. The participants were classified into normal and hypertensive categories according to their gender, with hypertension defined as a blood pressure level of 140/90 mmHg or higher, or a history of hypertension. Through the utilization of binary logistic regression analyses and the receiver operator curve (ROC), the optimal among fourteen indicators associated with obesity and lipids were identified.

Results: After adjusting for variables, statistical analysis showed that all 14 measures of obesity and lipid were risk factors for hypertension. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis reveals that the Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) has the highest degree of relationship to hypertension. Simultaneously, a statistically significant association between hypertension and these 14 variables was observed in both males and females.

Conclusion: There was a significant independent association between various parameters related to obesity and lipid-related index and the presence of hypertension, indicating that these factors can be considered risk factors for hypertension. CVAI and WHtR (waist height ratio) can be used to screen the high-risk groups of hypertensions in middle-aged and elderly people in China, and then take individualized health care measures to reduce the harm of hypertension.

Keywords: Hypertension; Lipids; Middle-aged and elderly Chinese; Obesity.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Body Mass Index
  • China / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension* / diagnosis
  • Hypertension* / epidemiology
  • Lipids
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity* / diagnosis
  • Obesity* / epidemiology
  • Obesity, Abdominal
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Lipids