Hypertension and its determinants among adults in high mountain villages of the Northern Areas of Pakistan

We studied the prevalence and determinants of hypertension among adults in mountainous rural villages in the Ghizar district Northern Areas of Pakistan, an area that recently has undergone substantial economic development. We selected a stratified random sample of 4203 adults (age > 18 years) from 16 villages in Punial Valley of Ghizar district where the number of study subjects from each village was proportionate to the size of the village. We obtained blood pressure (BP) records by taking the mean of the second and third BP measurement, using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer, and assessed risk factors for hypertension in the study subjects. The mean +/- s.d. blood pressures (mm Hg) were 125 +/- 19 systolic and 80 +/- 12 diastolic in men and 125 +/- 22 systolic and 78 +/- 14 diastolic in women. The 125 +/- 22 systolic and 78 +/- 14 diastolic in women. The mm Hg, or systolic BP > or = 140 mm Hg or currently taking antihypertensive medication) was 15%, increasing from 4% in the 18-29 year age group to 36% among persons 60 years of age or older. The age-standardised prevalence of hypertension was 14% (12.5% among men and 14% among women). There was no significant difference in prevalence of hypertension in males, and in females. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, and higher body mass index (overweight and obesity) were independently associated with higher prevalence of hypertension. People with hypertension were more likely to have a first-degree relative with physician-diagnosed hypertension (OR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.49, 2). Hypertension is a significant health problem in rural northern Pakistan. The primary health care programme in the Northern Areas of Pakistan needs to address this problem, especially identifying people at risk.     

Diabetes and hypertension. Blood pressure in clinical diabetic patients and a control population

Blood pressure was recorded in a group of 514 randomly selected Swiss diabetic patients (267 men and 247 women; 164 early-onset and 350 late-onset diabetics) aged from 35 to 54 years. These patients were compared with a control group from a population survey in Switzerland (877 men and 850 women). Mean systolic pressure (+/- SD) in the diabetic population was 139.3 +/- 21 mm Hg as compared with 125.5 +/- 17 mm Hg among controls. Mean diastolic pressure was 85.4 +/- 12 mm Hg in diabetic subjects as compared with 79.1 +/- 12 mm Hg in controls. The difference was reduced by about 25% after adjustment for body mass, age, and sex; 30.7% of diabetic subjects as compared with 8.2% among controls were hypertensive. Sixty-two percent of the hypertensive diabetic patients and 45% of the hypertensive controls were receiving antihypertensive treatment. In a multivariate analysis, presence of proteinuria and larger body mass had an important influence on systolic and diastolic blood pressures and the risk of hypertension. Diabetes duration had a significant influence only on systolic blood pressure. Efforts are needed in the clinical and research field to limit and clarify the harmful effects of elevated blood pressure in diabetes.     

北京市老年人体重指数与代谢指标及心脑血管疾病的关系

目的分析北京市城乡老年人体重指数(BMI)与各代谢指标及心脑血管疾病的关系。方法2000年起对一个流行病学队列研究人群1827例老年人进行身高、体重、血压测量和多项血液代谢指标的检查,同时进行人口学因素及心脑血管疾病的调查。结果女性BMI、超重及肥胖显著高于男性;随着年龄增长,BMI、超重及肥胖的比例显著下降;患代谢综合征的女性高于男性。随着BMI的增加,收缩压、舒张压、空腹血糖、TG逐渐增高,而平均年龄逐渐降低;代谢综合征及其各组分中的高血压、空腹血糖异常、糖尿病、高TG血症增加,高TC血症及高LDL-C血症也显著增加;冠心病患病率增高。结论随着BMI的增加,老年人多种代谢异常明显增高。     

广西地区打鼾人群血压状况分析

目的了解广西地区打鼾的发生率、打鼾人群血压状况及打鼾与高血压的相关性。方法2003年1月至2005年3月对广西桂南、桂中、桂北14岁及以上人群进行打鼾的流行病学调查。采用集中填写问卷辅以入户问卷调查的方法收集资料，同时检测受调查者血压、身高、体重等身体参数。结果共抽样调查2862户，11163人，年龄14—99岁，平均年龄（39．6±17．5）岁。其中2940人打鼾，打鼾发生率为27．3％（2940／10758）。非打鼾人群平均收缩压为（122．7±21．7）mmHg（1mmHg=0．133kPa），舒张压为（75．7±13．2）mmHg，高血压患病率为19．9％（1566／7860）。打鼾人群平均收缩压为（128．2±30．9）mmHg，舒张压为（79．3±12．4）mmHg，高血压患病率为31．5％（931／2940）。随着年龄的增加，打鼾的发生率逐渐升高（趋势X^2=592．613，P=0．000），高血压的患病率也逐渐升高（趋势X^2=1868．277，P=0．000）。非习惯性打鼾者高血压患病率为27．6％，习惯性打鼾者高血压患病率37．4％。轻度打鼾者高血压患病率为27．5％，中度为31．1％，重度为37．4％，同时合并（被发现）有睡眠呼吸暂停者为44．1％。可能影响高血压的诸多因素的单因素分析及logistic回归分析结果显示，年龄、民族、打鼾、体重指数、饮酒是高血压的危险因素。控制年龄、民族、体重指数、饮酒等因素后的偏相关分析结果显示，打鼾人群的打鼾程度与收缩压和舒张压均呈正相关。结论广西地区14岁及以上人群打鼾发生率为27．3％。打鼾人群收缩压与舒张压及高血压患病率明显高于非打鼾人群。高血压的患病率随打鼾程度的增加而增加。打鼾程度与收缩压和舒张压均呈正相关。打鼾是除年龄、体重指数、饮酒以外与高血压发生相关的危险因素。     

Obesity, mortality and cardiovascular disease in the Münster Heart Study (PROCAM).

In the Münster Heart Study (PROCAM), 16,288 men aged 40.6 +/- 11.3 years (mean +/- S.D.) and 7328 women aged 36.0 +/- 12.3 years were enrolled between 1979 and 1991. Mean body mass indices (BMIs) were 25.6 +/- 3.3 and 23.8 +/- 4.1 kg/m2 in men and women, respectively. There was a graded and continuous positive interaction in both men and women between BMI, age and serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic). High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol tended to increase with age, but decreased in graded fashion with increases in BMI in both sexes. Triglyceride increased with BMI in both sexes and with age in women, but decreased in the older age groups of overweight and obese men. Though fasting blood glucose increased with age and BMI in both sexes, the increase was more marked in women. Among the 10,856 men aged 36-65 years at study entry, 313 deaths occurred within a follow-up period of 7.1 +/- 2.4 years. Among these men, increased mortality was seen at high BMIs in both smokers and non-smokers and was caused by coronary heart disease (CHD). Increased mortality at low BMI was seen in smokers but not in non-smokers and was due to an increase in cancer deaths. The BMI-associated increase in CHD death was completely accounted for by the factors contained in the Münster Heart Study (PROCAM) risk algorithm, indicating that the effect of overweight and obesity on CHD is mediated via other risk factors.     

Age-related changes in blood pressure

This report is based on three different representative population samples of a total of 1304 men (50-79 years old) and 1246 women (38-79 years old) observed for up to 12 years. Subjects' consumption of antihypertensive drugs and blood pressure levels in subjects with and without such treatment are presented. The prevalence of treatment with antihypertensive drugs (including beta-blockers and diuretics for other indications) increased from 2% at age 50 years to 37% at 79 years of age among the men and from 1% at 38 years to 61% at 79 years of age among the women. The mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure in untreated subjects increased from 138/91 mm Hg at age 50 years to 159/91 mm Hg at age 70 years in the men and from 123/79 mm Hg at age 38 years to 168/93 mm Hg at age 70 years in the women. At age 79 years the mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure was 155/83 mm Hg in the men and 161/85 mm Hg in the women. In a longitudinal follow-up of reexamined subjects, there was an increase in systolic blood pressure levels up to age 75 years and a reduction in diastolic blood pressure after age 75 years in both sexes.     

Microalbuminuria and other cardiovascular risk factors in nondiabetic subjects.

The association between urinary albumin:creatinine ratio and other cardiovascular risk factors such as age, blood pressure, obesity, glycemic indices, insulin and lipid profile was examined in a population in a Chinese community consisting of 795 men (mean age 35.8 +/- 8.8 yr) and 538 women (mean age 37.9 +/- 8.9 yr) with a normal glucose tolerance defined by WHO criteria. Men with a urinary albumin:creatinine ratio above the 90th percentile had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures, fasting plasma glucose, 2-h glucose after a 75 g oral glucose load, and fasting serum insulin. Women with high urinary albumin:creatinine values had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, fasting insulin and triglycerides. Multivariate analysis showed that only systolic blood pressure and fasting glucose in men, and diastolic blood pressure and fasting insulin in women, independently contributed to urinary albumin:creatinine. When the effect of blood pressure was eliminated by excluding subjects with systolic blood pressure > 140 and diastolic > 90 mm Hg, only fasting insulin was associated with urinary albumin:creatinine in women. No associations were found for men. We conclude that microalbuminuria may be a marker for cardiovascular disease only because of its association with blood pressure in men, while in women, there is an additional independent association with fasting serum insulin.     

Trends in the prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension in the middle-aged population in 1972-1992.

We described the trends in the prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension during 1972 to 1992 in five independent population-based cross-sectional random samples in eastern Finland. A total of 15,155 men and 16,126 women aged 30-59 in 1972 and 30-64 years during 1977 to 1992 were included in this study. Standardised methods and measurements of the first screening blood pressure value were used, the size of the cuff bladder changed between 1977 and 1982. We defined isolated systolic hypertension as systolic blood pressure (SBP) > or =160 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) <95 mm Hg and diastolic hypertension as DBP > or =95 mm Hg. The normotensive group comprised subjects whose SBP <160 mm Hg and DBP <95 mm Hg. Subjects on antihypertensive medication were classified as having diastolic hypertension. The prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension increased in both sexes and in all age groups except among the youngest women, whereas the prevalence of diastolic hypertension decreased. The proportion of subjects with isolated systolic hypertension out of all hypertensive subjects increased from 11% in 1972 to 24% in 1992 among men and from 15% to 27% among women. The overall decrease in blood pressure, particularly the disproportionate decrease in diastolic over systolic blood in mean pressure may have resulted in the increase in the prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension.     

Association between sleeping hours, working hours and obesity in Hong Kong Chinese: the 'better health for better Hong Kong' health promotion campaign

OBJECTIVE: To study the inter-relationships between sleeping hours, working hours and obesity in subjects from a working population. RESEARCH DESIGN: A cross-sectional observation study under the 'Better Health for Better Hong Kong' Campaign, which is a territory-wide health awareness and promotion program. SUBJECTS: 4793 subjects (2353 (49.1%) men and 2440 (50.9%) women). Their mean age (+/-s.d.) was 42.4+/-8.9 years (range 17-83 years, median 43.0 years). Subjects were randomly selected using computer-generated codes in accordance to the distribution of occupational groups in Hong Kong. RESULTS: The mean daily sleeping time was 7.06+/-1.03 h (women vs men: 7.14+/-1.08 h vs 6.98+/-0.96 h, P<0.001). Increasing body mass index (BMI) was associated with reducing number of sleeping hours and increasing number of working hours reaching significance in the whole group as well as among male subjects. Those with short sleeping hour (6 h or less) and long working hours (>9 h) had the highest BMI and waist in both men and women. Based on multiple regression analysis with age, smoking, alcohol drinking, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean daily sleeping hours and working hours as independent variables, BMI was independently associated with age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in women, whereas waist was associated with age, smoking and blood pressure. In men, blood pressure, sleeping hours and working hours were independently associated with BMI, whereas waist was independently associated with age, smoking, blood pressure, sleeping hours and working hours in men. CONCLUSION: Obesity is associated with reduced sleeping hours and long working hours in men among Hong Kong Chinese working population. Further studies are needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this relationship and its potential implication on prevention and management of obesity.     

Impact of body weight on blood pressure with a focus on sex differences: the Tromso Study, 1986-1995

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity and hypertension is increasing in Western societies. We examined the effects of initial body mass index ([BMI] weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) and change in BMI on change in blood pressure, and we assessed sex differences. METHODS: A general population in the municipality of Tromso, northern Norway, was examined in 1986 and 1987 and again in 1994 and 1995. Altogether, 75% of the individuals, women aged 20 to 56 years and men aged 20 to 61 years, attended the baseline examination. A total of 15,624 individuals (87% of all still living in the municipality) were examined twice. RESULTS: Mean BMI increased between the examinations, more for the younger than the older examinees, and also more among women than men (P<.001). Adjusted for several covariates, BMI change was associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure change for both sexes (regression coefficients: 1.43 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.23-1. 64] and 0.90 [95% CI, 0.76-1.04], respectively, for men; and 1.24 [95% CI, 1.09-1.39] and 0.74 [95% CI, 0.63-0.84] for women). Baseline BMI was associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure change for women only (regression coefficients: 0.38 [95% CI, 0.30-0.47] and 0.17 [95% CI, 0.11-0.23], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: For women, both BMI at baseline and BMI change were independently associated with blood pressure change. For a given increase in BMI, obese women had a greater increase in blood pressure than lean women. This was not the case for men, for whom BMI change was the only significant predictor. Furthermore, a BMI increase for obese women induced a greater systolic blood pressure increase compared with men.     

A cross-sectional study on association of calcium intake with blood pressure in Japanese population

To investigate the association of calcium intake independently of other nutrients already known as predictors of hypertension, a cross-sectional study was carried out on the same population in Japan as used for the INTERSALT study. Dietary calcium intake was estimated from a 1-day 24-h recall. Sodium and potassium intakes were evaluated by 24-h urinary excretion. Data from 476 subjects aged 20-59 years, 230 men and 246 women, were analysed. The mean dietary calcium intake ranged from 557 to 608 mg/day among men, and from 528 to 639 mg/day among women. Among men, the pooled estimate of the regression coefficients of blood pressure (mm Hg) per 100 mg increase of calcium intake, adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI), were -0.42 mm Hg for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and -0.35 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure (DBP), but there was no statistical significance. Among women, the pooled estimates of regression coefficients adjusted for age and BMI were -0.92 mm Hg for SBP and -0.83 mm Hg for DBP with statistical significance. After adjustment for age, BMI, alcohol intake and urinary excretion of sodium and potassium, the pooled estimate of calcium intake was -0.66 mm Hg for DBP with statistical significance and -0.70 mm Hg for SBP. A significant negative association of calcium intake with blood pressure was observed among the subjects in Osaka. Our study suggests that increased calcium intake may provide a benefit of lowering blood pressure independently of other minerals such as sodium and potassium.     

Trends in overweight, obesity and central fat accumulation among Tehranian adults between 1998-1999 and 2001-2002: Tehran lipid and glucose study

AIMS: Recent estimates show the prevalence of obesity to be increasing at alarming rates. This study was conducted to examine trends of prevalence in overweight, obesity and central fat accumulation among Tehranian adults between 1998 and 2002. METHODS: Height and weight of 2,102 adults, aged 20-80 years, participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, were measured in 1998-1999 and remeasured in 2001-2002, after 3 years. Criteria used to state prevalence of overweight and obesity were body mass index (BMI) 25-29.9 and > or =30, respectively. Central fat accumulation was defined as waist-hip ratio (WHR) > or =0.8 in women and > or =0.9 in men. Individuals were divided into 10-year groups and the prevalence of obesity was compared according to sex and age. RESULTS: In 1998-1999 and 2001-2002, mean BMI was 26.1 +/- 4.1 and 26.7 +/- 4.1 kg/m(2) in men (p < 0.001) and 27.8 +/- 4.9 and 28.7 +/- 5.9 kg/m(2) in women (p < 0.001), respectively. Mean WHR in women was 0.84 +/- 0.08 in 1998-1999 and 0.88 +/- 0.08 in 2001-2002 (p < 0.001). The prevalence of overweight in men was 42.5 and 46% and 40 and 39.5% in women in the two mentioned periods. The prevalence of obesity was 32.7 and 40.3% in men and 16.5 and 20.8% in women in 1998-1999 and 2001-2002 respectively. In both sexes the fastest increasing trends in obesity and central fat accumulation were seen in the 30- to 40- and 20- to 30-year-old age groups. Comparison of the 50th percentile of BMI in all age groups showed a significant increase in 2001-2002 as compared to 1998-1999 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate significant rises in the prevalence of both total and central fat accumulation, calling for urgent action to educate people in lifestyle modifications.     

Cardiovascular risk factor levels in Portuguese students

OBJECTIVE: Portugal has one of the highest incidences of cerebrovascular disease in Europe. We speculated that this could be due to an early setting of the main cardiovascular risk factors in the Portuguese population. METHODS AND RESULTS: The levels of the main cardiovascular risk factors were assessed in 1001 candidates to a private Health Education Institution (mean age: 19.3+/-3.3 years). Overall, men had a higher body mass index (23.0+/-3.0 vs. 21.5+/-3.0 kg/m2, p<0.001), higher blood pressure levels (124+/-12 and 73+/-7 vs. 116+/-12 and 70+/-7 mm Hg for systolic and diastolic pressure, respectively, p<0.001) and higher triglyceride levels (70+/-41 vs. 59+/-31 mg/dl, p<0.001) than women. Prevalence of obesity, hypertension, smoking and drinking were also higher in men (6%, 15%, 24% and 40% vs. 4%, 4%, 17% and 13% in women, respectively, p<0.01). Conversely, women had higher levels of total cholesterol (174+/-31 vs. 166+/-33 mg/dl, p<0.001), which were due to higher levels of HDL-cholesterol (52+/-1 vs. 45+/-9 mg/dl, p<0.001). Finally, in both genders, obese subjects had significantly higher levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and triglycerides than non-obese. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors is high among young male Portuguese students and preventive measures should be applied, namely regarding obesity.     

Effect of body mass index changes between ages 5 and 14 on blood pressure at age 14: findings from a birth cohort study

Weight reduction in clinical populations of severely obese children has been shown to have beneficial effects on blood pressure, but little is known about the effect of weight gain among children in the general population. This study compares the mean blood pressure at 14 years of age with the change in overweight status between ages 5 and 14. Information from 2794 children born in Brisbane, Australia, and who were followed up since birth and had body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure measurements at ages 5 and 14 were used. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure at age 14 was the main outcomes and different patterns of change in BMI from age 5 to 14 were the main exposure. Those who changed from being overweight at age 5 to having normal BMI at age 14 had similar mean blood pressures to those who had a normal BMI at both time points: age- and sex-adjusted mean difference in systolic blood pressure 1.54 (-0.38, 3.45) mm Hg and in diastolic blood pressure 0.43 (-0.95, 1.81) mm Hg. In contrast, those who were overweight at both ages or who had a normal BMI at age 5 and were overweight at age 14 had higher blood pressure at age 14 than those who had a normal BMI at both times. These effects were independent of a range of potential confounding factors. Our findings suggest that programs that successfully result in children changing from overweight to normal-BMI status for their age may have important beneficial effects on subsequent blood pressure.     

Overweight Japanese with body mass indexes of 23.0-24.9 have higher risks for obesity-associated disorders: a comparison of Japanese and Mongolians

OBJECTIVE: The degree of obesity of Asians is less than that of Caucasians. It has been suggested that Japanese, categorized as having normal weight (BMI<25.0), as defined by WHO (2000), have a tendency toward increased incidences of dyslipidemia and diabetes. Our objective was to analyze parameters constituting obesity-associated disorders in overweight Japanese and Mongolians with a body mass index (BMI) of 23.0-24.9, and to assess the suitability for Asians of the Regional Office for Western Pacific Region of WHO criteria pertaining to obesity (WPRO criteria, 2000). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study in a workplace setting. SUBJECTS: A total of 386 Japanese men and 363 Japanese women, and 102 Mongolian men and 155 Mongolian women. MEASUREMENTS: Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference and blood pressure) and metabolic measurements (plasma levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose and insulin). RESULTS: Graded increases in BMI of Japanese and Mongolians were positively associated with body fat percent, waist circumference, hip circumference and waist/hip ratio. The Japanese were categorized as 22% overweight, 22% obese I, 3% obese II; the Mongolians rated as 18% overweight, 34% obese I, 19% obese II, based on the WPRO BMI criteria. The Mongolians had a higher prevalence of obesity and a higher body fat percent, but a lesser gradation of dyslipidemia, than did the BMI-matched Japanese groups. Overweight Japanese (BMI 23.0-24.9), in comparison to normal Japanese (BMI 18.5-22.9), had significant differences in systolic blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride in men, and in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, insulin and Homoeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance in women. In contrast, the Mongolians showed no significant differences in metabolic parameters between overweight and normal subjects, except for diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Since the relationship between abdominal fat mass and BMI is ethnic-specific, a universal BMI cutoff point is inappropriate for Asian populations such as the Japanese and Mongolians. The present investigation suggests that, while the WPRO criteria are suitable for Japanese, the WHO criteria are more appropriate for Mongolians.     

Impact of waist circumference on the relationship between blood pressure and insulin: the Quebec Health Survey

Hyperinsulinemia has been suggested to be involved in the etiology of obesity-associated hypertension. The objective of the present study was to quantify, in a population-based study, the respective contributions of excess adiposity (body mass index [BMI]), waist circumference (WC), fasting insulin levels, and insulin sensitivity to the variation of resting blood pressure. The Quebec Health Survey was used to obtain fasting plasma insulin and glucose levels and resting blood pressure as well as anthropometric measurements in a representative sample of 907 men and 937 women. When the sample was divided into tertiles of BMI and further stratified on the basis of the 50th percentile of WC (88 cm in men), nonobese men in the first BMI tertile (<23.2 kg/m2) but with abdominal obesity were characterized by an increased systolic blood pressure (SBP) compared with nonobese men with low WC (130+/-18 versus 120+/-11 mm Hg; mean+/-SD; P=0.075). The SBP was comparable to SBP values measured among men in the top BMI tertile (129+/-14 mm Hg for BMI > or =26.6 kg/m2). When subjects were classified into tertiles of fasting insulin and WC, no association between insulin levels and blood pressure was noted, once the variation in WC was considered. Insulin sensitivity (estimated with homeostasis model assessment [HOMA]) did not explain variation in blood pressure in men, whereas the contribution of HOMA in women was of marginal clinical significance (R2 of <1.3%; P<0.0001). These results suggest that the documented association between obesity, fasting insulin, insulin sensitivity, and blood pressure is largely explained by concomitant variation in WC.     

Prevalence of sustained hypertension and obesity in urban and rural school going children in Ludhiana

BACKGROUND: Increasing trend of hypertension is a worldwide phenomenon. The data on sustained hypertension in school going children is scanty in India. The present study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of sustained hypertension and obesity in apparently healthy school children in rural and urban areas of Ludhiana using standard criteria. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 2467 apparently healthy adolescent school children aged between 11-17 years from urban area and 859 students from rural area were taken as subjects. Out of total 3326 students, 189 were found to have sustained hypertension; in urban areas prevalence of sustained hypertension was 6.69% (n=165) and in rural area it was 2.56% (n=24). Males outnumbered females in both rural and urban areas. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of hypertensive population in both urban and rural population was significantly higher than systolic and diastolic blood pressure in their normotensive counterparts (urban normotensive systolic blood pressure:115.48+/-22.74 mmHg, urban hypertensive systolic blood pressure: 137.59+/-11.91 mmHg, rural normotensive systolic blood pressure: 106.31+/-19.86 mmHg, rural hypertensive systolic blood pressure: 131.63+/-10.13 mmHg, urban normotensive diastolic blood pressure: 74.18+/-17.41 mmHg, urban hypertensive diastolic blood pressure: 84.58+/-8.14 mmHg, rural normotensive diastolic blood pressure: 68.84+/-16.96 mmHg, rural hypertensive diastolic blood pressure: 79.15+/-7.41 mmHg). Overweight populationwas significantly higher in urban area. There were 287 (11.63%) overweight students and 58 (2.35%) were obese. In rural population overweight and obese students were 44 (4.7%) and 34 (3.63%) respectively. There was significant increase in prevalence of hypertension in both rural and urban population with increased body mass index in urban students; those with normal body mass index had prevalence of hypertension of 4.52% (n=96), in overweight it was 15.33% (n=44) and in obese it was 43.10% (n=25). In rural area, the overweight students showed prevalence of sustained hypertension in 6.82% (n=3) and in obese group it was 61.76% (n=21). None of the student with normal body mass index in rural area was found to be hypertensive. The mean body mass index of hypertensive population in both rural and urban areas was significantly higher than respective normotensive population (mean body mass index in urban normotensive group: 20.34+/-3.72 kg/m2, hypertensive group: 24.91+/-4.92 kg/m2; mean body mass index in rural normotensive group: 18.41+/-3.41 kg/m2, hypertensive group: 21.37+/-3.71 kg/m2, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of sustained hypertension is on the rise in urban area even in younger age groups. Blood pressure is frequently elevated in obese children as compared to lean subjects. This is possibly related to their sedentary lifestyle, altered eating habits, increased fat content of diet and decreased physical activities.     

Association of anthropometric indices with elevated blood pressure in British adults

OBJECTIVE: To investigate which of six anthropometric indices was most strongly associated with elevated blood pressure and frank hypertension in a representative population sample of young and middle-aged British adults. SUBJECTS: A representative random sample of British adults (2712 men and 3279 women) aged between 18 and 64y, who were resident in England, Scotland and Wales, were studied in the 1984-85 Health and Lifestyle Survey. MEASUREMENTS: Following an interview where demographic, health and lifestyle details were recorded, measurements of height, weight and waist and hip circumference were made by a nurse at a home visit, where blood pressure and medication to control blood pressure were also recorded. BMI and the ratios of waist circumference to height (WHTR) and waist circumference to hip (WHR) were calculated. Respondents with a blood pressure above 140 mm Hg (systolic) and/or 90 mm Hg (diastolic) or who were being treated for hypertension were classified as having elevated blood pressure. RESULTS: For men and women aged 18-39 and 40-64 y the prevalence of elevated blood pressure increased across the quintiles of BMI, weight, waist, WHTR and WHR was P < 0.001 for each, with waist and WHTR having the highest odds ratios. Waist and height adjusted for each other were independently related to the prevalence of elevated blood pressure in 40-64 y old men and women. Height, on its own, was inversely related (P < 0.05) only in the 40-64 y old men. The age adjusted partial correlations between systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements and the measurements of BMI, weight, waist, WHTR and WHR were close and significant, P < 0.001 for each. The ranking and significance of the correlations were hardly affected by excluding the treated hypertensives. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of elevated blood pressure was associated with quintiles of BMI, waist, WHTR, WHR and weight, with WHTR and WHR having the highest odds ratios. Waist and height were independently related to the prevalence of elevated blood pressure.     

Predictive value of prehypertension for metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and coronary heart disease among Turks

BACKGROUND: Predictors of prehypertension and the latter's significance in predicting metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes (DM), and incident coronary heart disease (CHD) need further exploration. METHODS: Individuals with or without prehypertension (blood pressure (BP) 120-139 systolic or 80-89 mm Hg diastolic) were studied prospectively in a representative sample of Turkish adults. RESULTS: Mean age of 1,501 men and 1,533 women was 48 +/- 12 years at baseline. Prehypertension, identified in 32.8% of the sample, differed from the normotensive group mainly by age-adjusted obesity measures and C-reactive protein (CRP) and progressed to hypertension at more than twofold annual incidence as normotension did. In logistic regression analysis, adjusted for sex, age, heart rate, and smoking status, prehypertension was predictive for risk of MetS in both genders (relative risk (RR) 1.55 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21; 1.99)) compared with normotensives. However, DM and CHD were significantly predicted by prehypertension only in women (RR 2.06 and 1.98, respectively, for outcomes). Cardiometabolic risks in women were largely independent of obesity. Body mass index (BMI) at baseline predicted significantly subsequent development of new prehypertension in both genders (hazard ratio 1.39 (95% CI 1.17; 1.65)) and CRP tended to contribute to this risk. CONCLUSIONS: Prehypertension, compared with normotension, approximately doubles the risk for DM, MetS, and CHD in women without conferring substantial risk in Turkish men, except toward MetS. Excess cardiometabolic risk of prehypertension in women is independent of obesity. BMI is a determinant of prehypertension.     

Arterial hypertension difficult to control in the elderly patient. The significance of the "white coat effect"]

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have revealed a high prevalence of white coat effect among treated hypertensive patients. The difference between clinic and ambulatory blood pressure seems to be more pronounced in older patients. This abnormal rise in blood pressure BP in treated hypertensive patients can lead to a misdiagnosis of refractory hypertension. Clinicians may increase the dosage of antihypertensive drugs or add further medication, increasing costs and producing harmful secondary effects. Our aim was to evaluate the discrepancy between clinic and ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensive patients on adequate antihypertensive treatment and to analyse the magnitude of the white coat effect and its relationship with age, gender, clinic blood pressure and cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events. POPULATION AND METHODS: We included 50 consecutive moderate/severe hypertensive patients, 58% female, mean age 68 +/- 10 years (48-88), clinic blood pressure (3 visits) > 160/90 mm Hg, on antihypertensive adequate treatment > 2 months with good compliance and without pseudohypertension. The patients were submitted to clinical evaluation (risk score), clinic blood pressure and heart rate, electrocardiogram and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (Spacelabs 90,207). Systolic and diastolic 24 hour, daytime, night-time blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. We considered elderly patients above 60 years of age (80%). We defined white coat effect as the difference between systolic clinic blood pressure and daytime systolic blood pressure BP > 20 mm Hg or the difference between diastolic clinic blood pressure and daytime diastolic blood pressure > 10 mm Hg and severe white coat effect as systolic clinic blood pressure--daytime systolic blood pressure > 40 mm Hg or diastolic clinic blood pressure--daytime diastolic blood pressure > 20 mm Hg. The patients were asked to take blood pressure measurements out of hospital (at home or by a nurse). The majority of them performed an echocardiogram examination. RESULTS: Clinic blood pressure was significantly different from daytime ambulatory blood pressure (189 +/- 19/96 +/- 13 vs 139 +/- 18/78 +/- 10 mm Hg, p < 0.005). The magnitude of white coat effect was 50 +/- 17 (8-84) mm Hg for systolic blood pressure and 18 +/- 11 (-9 +/- 41) mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure. A marked white coat effect (> 40 mm Hg) was observed in 78% of our hypertensive patients. In elderly people (> 60 years), this difference was greater (50 +/- 15 vs 45 +/- 21 mm Hg) though not significantly. We did not find significant differences between sexes (males 54 +/- 16 mm Hg vs 48 +/- 17 mm Hg). In 66% of these patients, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring showed daytime blood pressure values < 140/90 mm Hg, therefore refractory hypertension was excluded. In 8 patients (18%) there was a previous history of ischemic cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease and all of them had a marked difference between systolic clinic and daytime blood pressure (> 40 mm Hg). Blood pressure measurements performed out of hospital did not help clinicians to identify this phenomena as only 16% were similar (+/- 5 mm Hg) to ambulatory daytime values. CONCLUSIONS: Some hypertensive patients, on adequate antihypertensive treatment, have a significant difference between clinic blood pressure and ambulatory blood pressure measurements. This difference (White Coat Effect) is greater in elderly patients and in men (NS). Although clinic blood pressure values were significantly increased, the majority of these patients have controlled blood pressure on ambulatory monitoring. In this population, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was of great value to identify a misdiagnosis of refractory hypertension, which could lead to improper decisions in the therapeutic management of elderly patients (increasing treatment) and compromise cerebrovascular or coronary circulation.