Objective: To explore whether the increase of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumstances (WC) can predict the higher risk of hypertension in Chinese adults.
Methods: The data were collected in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). A total of 4552 adults aged 18-60 years old were selected as the subjects who were healthy in the baseline survey in 2000 and followed up in 2004. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the relative risk (RR) of developing hypertension associated with the BMI and WC in baseline and the four-year change of BMI and WC.
Results: The incidence of hypertension of men and women was 20.01% and 13.52% respectively during the four years of follow-up. The risk of developing hypertension rose with the increase of either BMI or WC in baseline. Compared with the group of neither general obesity (defined by BMI) nor abdominal obesity (defined by WC) group with both general obesity and abdominal obesity had the highest risk (men RR = 2.840, 95% CI: 2.139-3.771, women RR = 2.734, 95% CI: 2.050-3.647) among the different combinations of BMI and WC. Adjusted for other factors the risk of developing hypertension also increased with the four-year augment of either BMI or WC (BMI: men, RR = 1.141, 95% CI: 1.087-1.199, women, RR = 1.109, 95% CI: 1.056-1.164, WC: men, RR = 1.038, 95% CI: 1.022-1.055, women, RR = 1.035, 95% CI: 1.018-1.052).
Conclusion: The increase of BMI and WC can predict the higher risk of the development of hypertension. The combination of BMI and WC can increase the predictive efficacy of the incidence of hypertension.