Impact of 5-year weight change on blood pressure: results from the Weight Loss Maintenance trial

The effects of initial and subsequent overweight or obesity on hypertension in the middle age

The aims of our study were to examine whether initial or subsequent adiposity status had a greater effect on hypertension. We collected data in 1992 and again in 2007 from the same group of 597 individuals in the middle age. The subjects were classified into four groups: individuals with a normal body mass index (BMI) in 1992 and 2007 were in Group I; those with a normal BMI in 1992, but became overweight or obese in 2007 were in Group II; those who were overweight or obese in 1992, but had a normal BMI in 2007 were in Group III; and those who were overweight or obese in 1992 and 2007 were in Group IV. Their demographic data were recorded. The relationship between adiposity status and hypertension was analyzed using logistic regression model. The cumulative incidence of hypertension was 35.5%, 56.3%, 50.0%, and 65.1% for Group I to IV, respectively. Compared with Group I, after adjusted factors, the hazard ratio (HR) was 1.80 for Group II (P = .001), 1.40 for Group III (P = .150), and 2.31 for Group IV (P < .001). Adiposity status in 2007 could predict hypertension (OR = 2.5, P < .001), as opposed to the initial adiposity status (P = .148). Subsequently adiposity status could have major effects on hypertension. Our society is very short of public health resources, particularly in developing countries, we should pay more attention to current adiposity status and encourage middle-aged people to lose weight.

To what extent the weight changes impact the risk of hypertension among menopausal women: insights from Tehran lipid and glucose study

BACKGROUND & AIM

The association between weight change and incident hypertension (HTN) in menopausal women has not been well characterized. This study aimed to determine whether weight changes after menopausal years make a difference in incidents of hypertension.

MATERIALS & METHODS

This population-based study was performed using data collected from Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study cohort (1999-2018). Women who had natural and early menopause were followed up every 3 years. Data gathering was performed through the standard protocol of the study. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariable Cox hazard regression analysis. We used the 'survival' package in the R software version 3.6.0 to fit survival models.

RESULTS

A total of 487 menopausal women met the inclusion criteria; 62.6% had natural menopause and remained had early menopause. Among the participants, 65.5% experienced HTN. The highest proportion of participants had > 5% weight gain, while the lowest had 3-5% weight gain. Either losing body weight (lost > 5%: HR: 0.44; CI 95%, 0.32, 0.62; p < 0.001), (lost 3-5%; HR: 0.47; CI 95%, 0.26, 0.84; p = 0.01), and weight gain > 5% (HR: 0.69; CI 95%, 0.51, 0.91; p = 0.01), were associated with decreased risk of HTN after adjustment for confounders. In this study, weight loss and gain have a protective impact on the development of HTN in subjects. For incident HTN, age (HR: 1.04 (1.01, 1.08), p = 0.004), fasting blood glucose (HR: 1.01, CI 95%:1.00, 1.01; p < 0.001), body mass index (1.02 (1.00, 1.05), p = 0.03) and smoking (1.70 (1.11, 2.58), p = 0.01) were positively associated with HTN.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates the significant association of weight change with hypertension risk in later life among menopausal women.

Perspectives on improving blood pressure control to reduce the clinical and economic burden of hypertension

The clinical and economic burden of hypertension is high and continues to increase globally. Uncontrolled hypertension has severe but avoidable long-term consequences, including cardiovascular diseases, which are among the most burdensome and most preventable conditions in Europe. Yet, despite clear guidelines on screening, diagnosis and management of hypertension, a large proportion of patients remain undiagnosed or undertreated. Low adherence and persistence are common, exacerbating the issue of poor blood pressure (BP) control. Although current guidelines provide clear direction, implementation is hampered by barriers at the patient-, physician- and healthcare system levels. Underestimation of the impact of uncontrolled hypertension and limited health literacy lead to low adherence and persistence among patients, treatment inertia among physicians and a lack of decisive healthcare system action. Many options to improve BP control are available or under investigation. Patients would benefit from targeted health education, improved BP measurement, individualized treatment or simplified treatment regimens through single-pill combinations. For physicians, increasing awareness of the burden of hypertension, as well as offering training on monitoring and optimal management and provision of the necessary time to collaboratively engage with patients would be useful. Healthcare systems should establish nationwide strategies for hypertension screening and management. Furthermore, there is an unmet need to implement more comprehensive BP measurements to optimize management. In conclusion, an integrative, patient-focused, multimodal multidisciplinary approach to the management of hypertension by clinicians, payers and policymakers, involving patients, is required to achieve long-term improvements in population health and cost-efficiency for healthcare systems.

Prevalence and risk factors of prehypertension/hypertension among freshman students from the Vietnam National University: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Prehypertension (PHT) and hypertension (HTN) in young adults are essential risk factors for other cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in later years of life. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the burden and risk factors of PHT/HTN for Vietnamese youth. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PHT/HTN and risk factors among university students in Hanoi, Vietnam.

METHODS

This study was designed as a cross-sectional investigation with 840 students (394 males and 446 females) randomly sampled from freshmen of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU). Socio-demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle data were collected using questionnaire forms and physical measurements. HTN was defined as blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140/90 mmHg and/or current treatment with antihypertensive medications. PHT was defined as a systolic BP from 120 to 139 mmHg and/or a diastolic BP from 80 to 89 mmHg. Body mass index (BMI) was classified according to the WHO diagnostic criteria for Asian adults: normal weight (BMI 18.5-22.9 kg/m2), underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 23-24.9 kg/m2), and obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). Bivariable and multivariable log-binomial regression analyses were conducted to explore the association of PHT/HTN with different risk factors.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension was 33.5% [95% CI: 30.3-36.8%] (54.1% in men and 15.3% in women) and 1.4% [95% CI: 0.7-2.5%] (2.5% in men and 0.5% in women), respectively. Regarding CVD major risk factors, 119 (14.2%) were identified as overweight/obese, 461 (54.9%) were physical inactivity, 29.4% of men and 8.1% of women reported consuming alcohol. The multivariable analysis indicated the male sex (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 3.07; 95% CI: 2.32-4.06), alcohol consumption (aPR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.03-1.59) and obesity (aPR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.08-1.68) as the independent risk factors for PHT/HTN.

CONCLUSIONS

The results revealed the high burden of prehypertension and hypertension among university freshmen in VNU. Male sex, alcohol consumption, and obesity were identified as important risk factors for PHT/HTN. Our study suggests an early screening program for PHT/HTN and campaigns to promote a healthy lifestyle for young adults in Vietnam.

Association of adiposity indices with prehypertension among Chinese adults: A cross-sectional study

The association of adiposity indices with prehypertension remains unclear in the Chinese non-hypertensive population. This study aimed to compare the association of adiposity indices, including waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio, body roundness index (BRI), a body shape index (ABSI), and conicity index (CI), and prehypertension in the Chinese population. We recruited 61 475 participants from a population-based screening project in Guangdong province, China. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to detect the association between the six adiposity indices and prehypertension. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the predictive values of adiposity indices to prehypertension. The individuals were divided into two categories by blood pressure (BP) levels: normotension (<120/80 mmHg) and prehypertension (120-139/80-89 mmHg). A total of 33 233 people had prehypertension, with a prevalence of 54.04% and 42% males. Both logistics regression models presented a positive association between each adiposity index and prehypertension (p < .05), except for ABSI. The body mass index (BMI) was slightly more correlated with prehypertension than any other index. The standardized ORs for the six indices were 1.392, 1.361, 1.406, 1.039, 1.372, and 1.151, respectively. Compared to other adiposity indices, the WC had a significantly higher area under the curve (AUC) for predicting prehypertension (AUC: .619, sensitivity: 57%, specificity: 60.6%). In conclusion, WC and BMI might be the best indicators for prehypertension. Increasing evidence supports avoiding obesity as a preferred primary prevention strategy for prehypertension while controlling other major hypertension risk factors.

Associations between TyG-BMI and normal-high blood pressure values and hypertension: cross-sectional evidence from a non-diabetic population

Objective

Triglyceride glucose body mass index (TyG-BMI) has been shown to be strongly associated with a variety of chronic diseases. However, little is known about the associations between TyG-BMI and normal-high blood pressure (BP) values and hypertension (HTN).

Method

The current study was cross-sectional in design and included 15,464 non-diabetic participants recruited between 1994 and 2016 in the NAGALA (NAfld in the Gifu Area, Longitudinal Analysis) study. Associations between TyG-BMI and normal-high BP values and HTN were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. The ability of the TyG index, BMI, and their combined index TyG-BMI to identify normal-high BP values and HTN was compared by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results

Among the 15,464 eligible non-diabetic participants, 28.56% (4,416/15,464) and 6.23% (964/15,464) had normal-high BP values and HTN, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed positive correlations between BMI, TyG index, TyG-BMI and normal-high BP values/HTN; after standardized regression coefficients, TyG-BMI had the strongest association with normal-high BP values and HTN compared to BMI and TyG index. In the fully adjusted model, the odds ratio (OR) value corresponding to the relationship between TyG-BMI and HTN/normal-high BP values was 2.35; when TyG-BMI was used as a categorical variable, compared with the lowest quartile of TyG-BMI the regression coefficient for the association of the highest quartile of TyG-BMI with normal-high BP values increased by 426%, while the regression coefficient for the association with HTN increased by 527%. In further spline regression analysis, we also found that there was a linearly positive correlation between TyG-BMI and systolic BP/diastolic BP (SBP/DBP), which supported the linear trend between TyG-BMI and HTN/normal-high BP values (P-trend <0.0001). In addition, ROC analysis showed that TyG-BMI had good diagnostic values for both normal-high BP values and HTN, and TyG index combined with BMI can significantly improve the ability of a single index to identify normal-high BP values and HTN.

Conclusion

In the non-diabetic population, TyG-BMI showed a significant positive correlation with both normal-high BP values and HTN, and TyG-BMI was of higher value for the identification of both normal-high BP values and HTN compared to BMI and TyG index alone.

Association of METS-IR with incident hypertension in non-overweight adults based on a cohort study in Northeastern China

BACKGROUND

Insulin resistance (IR) plays an important role in the progression of hypertension (HTN); therefore, early identification of IR is clinically important for preventing HTN. Our study aims to explore the relationship between the metabolic score for IR (METS-IR) and HTN in Chinese population who maintained non-overweight.

METHODS

A total of 4678 adults who underwent annual health check-up in our institution from 2010 to 2017, did not have HTN at the first check-up and maintained non-overweight at follow-up were selected as subjects. The baseline METS-IR was calculated and the outcome was incident HTN. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to evaluate hazards ratios of HTN for METS-IR. Additionally, sensitive analyses and stratification analyses were used to deeply verify the relationship of METS-IR with HTN. The dose-response association between METS-IR and HTN risk was investigated using restricted the cubic spline analysis fitted for the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

Compared with the first quartiles of METS-IR, the risk of incident HTN was increased by 58% [hazard ratio (HR) 1.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-2.22] and 96% (HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.40-2.76) in the Q3 group and the Q4 group, respectively. The results remained consistent when analyses were restricted to people without abnormal high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride or fasting plasma glucose level at baseline. A linear dose-response relationship between METS-IR and HTN risk was identified (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04-1.12).

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of incident HTN was associated with elevated METS-IR levels in non-overweight individuals. METS-IR could help predict the risk of HTN in non-overweight individuals.

Association of healthy lifestyles on the risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and their comorbidity among subjects with dyslipidemia

Background

Adherence to a healthy lifestyle could reduce the risk of hypertension and diabetes in general populations; however, whether the associations exist in subjects with dyslipidemia remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the integrated effect of lifestyle factors on the risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and their comorbidity among subjects with dyslipidemia.

Methods

In total of 9,339 subjects with dyslipidemia were recruited from the baseline survey of the Guangzhou Heart Study. A questionnaire survey and medical examination were performed. The healthy lifestyle score (HLS) was derived from five factors: smoking, alcohol drinking, diet, body mass index, and leisure-time physical activity. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated by using the logistic regression model and the multinomial logistic regression after adjusting for confounders.

Results

The prevalence of hypertension, T2DM, and their comorbidity was 47.65, 16.02, and 10.10%, respectively. Subjects with a higher HLS were associated with a lower risk of hypertension, T2DM, and their comorbidity. In comparison to the subjects with 0–2 HLS, the adjusted ORs for subjects with five HLS was 0.48 (95% CI: 0.40–0.57) and 0.67 (95% CI: 0.54–0.84) for hypertension and T2DM. Compared with subjects with 0-2 HLS and neither hypertension nor T2DM, those with five HLS had a lower risk of suffering from only one disease (OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.40–0.57) and their comorbidity (OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.26–0.47).

Conclusions

The results suggest that the more kinds of healthy lifestyle, the lower the risk of hypertension, T2DM, and their comorbidity among subjects with dyslipidemia. Preventive strategies incorporating lifestyle factors may provide a more feasible approach for the prevention of main chronic diseases.

The effects of the interaction between BMI and dyslipidemia on hypertension in adults

Body mass index (BMI) and dyslipidemia are indicators of human health and are often associated with high blood pressure. In this study,we explored the relationship between BMI or dyslipidemia and the risk of hypertension and further verified the possible interacting influences of BMI with dyslipidemia on the risk of hypertension. The aim is to explore the possible risk factors of hypertension and to provide scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Eligible subjects were selected from a cross-sectional survey in Changsha City, and we collected relevant data and clinical indicators for each participant. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight (kg)/height² (m²), and divided into four categories according to the Chinese standard. Dyslipidemia is defined according to Chinese guideline. Unconditional logistic regression models were used for dichotomous variables to determine the risk or protective factors of dependent variables. Multivariate Logistic model was used to study the influence of BMI and dyslipidemia on hypertension. The following indicators were used to assess the interaction effects: (1) Relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI); (2) Attributable proportion due to interaction(AP); (3) Synergy index (SI). SPSS software was used for statistical analysis. A total of 2740 eligible participants were enrolled in the cross-sectional study, of which 765 subjects (27.9%) were diagnosed with hypertension. Multivariate Logistic model showed that overweight (OR: 1.70, 95%CI: 1.39–2.09) or obese (OR: 2.60, 95%CI: 1.84–3.66) subjects had a significantly higher risk of hypertension than normal weight people, and underweight was a protective factor for hypertension(OR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.29–0.93). People with dyslipidemia have a higher risk of hypertension than those with normal lipids (OR: 3.05, 95%CI: 2.36–3.90). In addition,there was a significant potentiating interaction effect between overweight or obesity and dyslipidemia(overweight: RERI (1.91, 95%CI: 0.17–3.66), AP (0.40, 95%CI:0.14–0.66), SI (2.03, 95%CI:1.11–3.74) and obesity: RERI (2.20, 95%CI:1.01–3.40), AP (0.38, 95%CI:0.18–0.58), SI (1.84, 95%CI:1.18–2.89), while no interaction was found between underweight and dyslipidemia. Low body weight is an independent protective factor for hypertension, but overweight, obesity and dyslipidemia are risk factors for hypertension, and dyslipidemia significantly shared interactions with overweight and obesity that influenced the risk of hypertension.

Association Between METS-IR and Prehypertension or Hypertension Among Normoglycemia Subjects in Japan: A Retrospective Study

AIM

Our study aimed to investigate the association between the novel non-insulin-based metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) index and pre-hypertension (HTN) or HTN in normoglycemia Japanese participants.

METHODS

The NAGALA medical examination program at Murakami Memorial Hospital in Gifu, Japan was found in 1994. 15,453 participants enrolled in this program from 2004 to 2015 was included in this retrospective study to explore the association between the METS-IR index and pre-HTN or HTN. Covariates included serum biomarkers and clinicodemographic characteristics. Logistic regression was applied to explore the association between METS-IR level and pre-HTN or HTN.

RESULTS

This study includes a total of 15453 participants. The prevalence rates of pre-HTN and HTN were 28.55% (4412/15453) and 6.23% (962/15453), respectively. Adjusted for confounding factors in the multivariable logistic regression analysis models, when METS-IR was used as a categorical variable, high METS-IR was significantly associated with both pre-HTN (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.95, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.61-2.36) and HTN (adjusted OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.44-3.11). When METS-IR was used as a continuous variable, each 1 unit increase in METS-IR was associated with a 7% increase in the prevalence of pre-HTN (adjusted OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.06-1.08) and with a 13% increase in the prevalence of HTN (adjusted OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.10-1.16). Stratified analyses indicated a positive correlation between METS-IR and pre-HTN or HTN in normoglycemia subjects with different characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

METS-IR levels are significantly associated with pre-HTN or HTN in normoglycemia individuals in Gifu, Japan. METS-IR may be used as a monitoring indicator for the development of HTN primary prevention and management strategies in the future, but it still needs more research to confirm.

Insulin resistance surrogates predict hypertension plus hyperuricemia

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

To compare the association of hypertension plus hyperuricemia with four insulin resistance surrogates, including glucose and triglycerides (TyG index), TyG index with body mass index (TyG-BMI), the ratio of triglycerides divided by high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) and metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from a cross-sectional epidemiological study enrolling a representative population sample aged ≥65 years were used to calculate the four indexes. The association with hypertension plus hyperuricemia and insulin resistance surrogates was examined with multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic.

RESULTS

A total of 4,352 participants were included, including 93 (2.1%) patients with hyperuricemia alone, 2,875 (66.1%) with hypertension alone and 587 (13.5%) with hypertension plus hyperuricemia. Mutivariate logistic regression showed that TyG index, TyG-BMI, TG/HDL-C and METS-IR were all significantly correlated with hyperuricemia, hypertension and hypertension plus hyperuricemia. Compared with the lowest quartile, the odds ratios (OR) of the highest quartile of the four indicators for hypertension plus hyperuricemia were TyG index: OR 6.39 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.17-9.78); TyG-BMI: OR 8.54 (95% CI 5.58-13.09); TG/HDL-C: OR 7.21 (95% CI 4.72-11.01); METS-IR: OR 9.30 (95% CI 6.00-14.43), respectively. TyG-BMI and METS-IR had moderate discriminative abilities for hypertension plus hyperuricemia and the AUC values were 0.72 (95% CI 0.70-0.74) and 0.73 (95% CI 0.70-0.75).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggested that TyG index, TyG-BMI, TG/HDL-C and METS-IR had a significant correlation with hypertension plus hyperuricemia, and TyG-BMI and METS-IR had discriminative abilities for hypertension plus hyperuricemia.

[Primary Prevention of Acute Stroke]

Primary Prevention of Acute Stroke Abstract. Strokes are frequent. Vascular risk factors are increasing the stroke risk. Most vascular risk factors are treatable. Their therapy is important in the primary prevention of stroke. According to the INTERSTROKE study, arterial hypertension, inactivity, overweight, dyslipidemia, smoking, unhealthy diet, cardiac pathologies such as major arrhythmia, diabetes mellitus, stress/depression and overconsumption of alcohol are the most important treatable vascular risk factors. In this article, we will also report on at present less well known treatable vascular risk factors such as sleep apnea, atheromatosis of the aortic arch and of arteries supplying the brain, migraine with aura and chronic inflammatory disorders and infections.

The effect of body mass index and its interaction with family history on hypertension: a case-control study

Background

BMI is an indicator commonly used in the world to measure the weight and height of the body, it reflects the comprehensive outcome of acquired lifestyle; FH is a sign reflecting the main role of genetic factors. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of BMI and interaction with FH on hypertension risk in Shanghai adult population.

Methods

According to l:l matched pairs design, 342 cases and 342 controls were selected and investigated in this study, this study was performed in Shanghai, China. Participants received face-to-face questionnaire survey, anthropometric tests and laboratory examinations. Relevant indicators that reflect obesity including BMI and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to explore the association between factors and hypertension risk. Interactive effect was evaluated by synergy index (SI), relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion due to interaction (AP) and the percentage of the interaction between the pure factors (PAP).

Results

Among 684 study participants aged 28–87 years old, the differences of mean age and height between case group and control group are no significant (p > 0.05), but the differences of mean of weight, WC, HC, BMI and WHR are significant (p < 0.001). The OR of FH on hypertension is 4.986 (95%CI: 2.832~ 8.877); the OR of BMI on hypertension is respectively: low weight is 1.528 (95%CI: 0.551~ 4.239), overweight is 3.333 (95%CI: 1.678~ 6.617) and obesity is 7.312 (95%CI: 3.556~ 15.035). The OR of interaction between FH and BMI to hypertension is 12.993 (95%CI: 7.426~22.734). SI is 1.90 (95% CI: 1.48~3.78), RERI is 5.67 (95% CI: 1.66~11.88), AP is 43.87% (95% CI: 12.84~91.88%), and PAP is 47.55% (95%CI: 13.91~99.58%). FH and BMI have positive interaction on hypertension. 43.87% of hypertension exposed to both FH and BMI was attributable to the interaction of them.

Conclusions

FH and BMI are significant higher risks of hypertension; with the increase of BMI, the risk of hypertension will increase more. FH and BMI have positive interaction with hypertension, the interaction is greater than the sum of two independent actions.

Medications that cause weight gain and alternatives in Canada: a narrative review

BACKGROUND

The cause of the obesity epidemic is multifactorial, but may, in part, be related to medication-induced weight gain. While clinicians may strive to do their best to select pharmacotherapy(ies) that has the least negative impact on weight, the literature regarding the weight effects of medication is often limited and devoid of alternative therapies.

RESULTS

Antipsychotics, antidepressants, antihyperglycemics, antihypertensives and corticosteroids all contain medications that were associated with significant weight gain. However, there are several medication alternatives within the majority of these classes associated with weight neutral or even weight loss effects. Further, while not all of the classes of medication examined in this review have weight-favorable alternatives, there exist many other tools to mitigate weight gain associated with medication use, such as changes in dosing, medication delivery or the use of adjunctive therapies.

CONCLUSION

Medication-induced weight gain can be frustrating for both the patient and the clinician. As the use of pharmaceuticals continues to increase, it is pertinent for clinicians to consider the weight effects of medications prior to prescribing or in the course of treatment. In the case where it is not feasible to make changes to medication, adjunctive therapies should be considered.

Causal association of body mass index with hypertension using a Mendelian randomization design

Observational studies have shown that obesity is a major risk factor for hypertension, but unmeasured confounding factors may exist. We used Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess the causal effect of obesity on hypertension.The MR analysis was performed in a well-defined community cohort study of 8832 middle-aged (40-69 years) adults in Korea enrolled from 2001 to 2013. We used baseline hypertension and newly diagnosed hypertension during the 10-year follow-up period as the outcome variable. Genetic risk score associated with body mass index (BMI GRS) was used as the instrumental variable (IV) to measure the causal relationship between obesity and hypertension. The IV estimate of causal odds ratio (OR) was derived using the Wald ratio estimator and then exponentiation to express the result as an OR.In the multivariable model adjusting for age, sex, study area, education, smoking, and current alcohol consumption, each 1 kg/m increase in BMI was associated with a 19% (OR: 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17-1.21) increase in hypertension risk. We selected 6 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (P < 1.0 × 10) associated with BMI by genome-wide screening using linear regression and created 6 types of GRS. We demonstrated that each standard-deviation increase in BMI GRS was associated with a 5% to 6% (OR: 1.05-1.06) increased risk of hypertension (all P < .05). Using BMI GRS as the IV, we found a causal relationship between BMI and hypertension (OR: 1.13-1.26, all P < .05 except weighted GRS [n = 6]).Using Mendelian randomization, we found that obesity is causally associated with hypertension. This information will have important public health implications, supporting evidence that obesity-reduction programs will reduce the incidence of hypertension.

Prevalence and distribution of hypertension and related risk factors in Jilin Province, China 2015: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and distribution of hypertension and its related factors in Jilin province, China.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study in four cities and four rural counties in Jilin as part of a national Chinese study.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

A total of 15 206 participants who were ≥15 years old and were selected using a stratified multistage random sampling method.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The prevalence of hypertension.

RESULTS

The prevalence of hypertension in Jilin province was 24.7%. Moreover, the prevalence of hypertension increased with age in both sexes, and was higher in men than in women. The modifiable factors that were associated with hypertension were body mass index, smoking and alcohol drinking. The risk factors identified are similar to those in southern China, except smoking, which has no association with hypertension prevalence in the South.

CONCLUSIONS

Age, sex, body mass index, smoking and alcohol drinking were risk factors of hypertension. Control of these related risk factors, especially smoking, may be helpful in the treatment and management of hypertension in Jilin province.

How much excess weight loss can reduce the risk of hypertension?

Background

A 25% relative reduction in the prevalence of hypertension is a global target. This meta-analysis estimated the effect of excess weight loss on hypertension.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus until January 2016. We included prospective cohort studies addressing the association between overweight/obesity and hypertension. We expressed the strength of association using risk ratio and the excess risk using attributable risk fraction with 95% CI based on the random-effects model.

Results

We found 7617 references and included 10 studies with 173 828 participants. Compared with normal weight, the risk ratio of hypertension was 1.52 (1.37, 1.67; 9 studies, I2 = 82.4%) for overweight and 2.17 (1.84, 2.50; 9 studies, I2 = 88.9%) for obesity. The excess risk of hypertension attributable to overweight was 32% (24%, 40%; 8 studies, I2 = 85.5%) and that attributable to obesity was 47% (40%, 54%; 8 studies, I2 = 88.2%). That means, excess weight loss may reduce the risk of hypertension by between 24% and 40% in people who are overweight and by between 40% and 54% in people who are obese.

Conclusions

Excess weight loss is a vital strategy for controlling hypertension and is sufficient for achieving the global target, particularly if it is accompanied with other preventive measures.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Prehypertension and Hypertension in Southern China

Background

This study aimed to describe the prevalence and risk factors of prehypertension and hypertension in Jiangxi Province, China. Individuals with prehypertension frequently progress into hypertension and are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of 15,296 participants (15 years or older) was conducted in Jiangxi Province, China, in 2013, using questionnaire forms and physical measurements.

Results

The prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension was 32.3% (39.2% in men and 27.6% in women) and 29.0% (30.1% in men and 28.2% in women), respectively. The awareness, treatment, and control rates among all hypertensive participants were 64.8%, 27.1%, and 12.6%, respectively. The prevalence of prehypertension in males declined with age, but the prevalence of hypertension increased in different genders. The prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension increased with increasing body mass index (BMI). The prevalence of prehypertension decreased, in parallel to an increase in the prevalence of hypertension, with increasing waist circumference (WC). A combination of WC and BMI was superior to individual indices in identifying hypertension. A multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that increasing age, high BMI, high visceral adipose index, and high heart rate were risk factors for prehypertension and hypertension. The high body fat percentage was significantly associated with prehypertension. Living in an urban area, male sex, abdominal obesity, and menopause were correlated with hypertension.

Conclusions

Prehypertension and hypertension are epidemic in southern China. Further studies are needed to explore an indicator that can represent the visceral fat accurately and has a close relationship with cardiovascular disease.

Five-year weight changes associate with blood pressure alterations independent of changes in serum insulin

OBJECTIVE

In overweight-related hypertension, the effect of weight changes on blood pressure (BP) is believed to be mediated by insulin. To test this hypothesis, we studied 5-year changes in weight, BP, and insulin in a general population of Danish adults (n = 3443; mean age 45.7 ± 7.6 years).

METHODS

We assessed the glucose-insulin metabolism by a standard oral glucose tolerance test. We divided the antihypertensive and antidiabetic medication-free participants into three groups: weight loss (n = 515), weight stable (n = 1778), and weight gain (n = 1150).

RESULTS

Losing on average 6.5 kg body weight, the weight loss group experienced a 28.2% reduction [(95% confidence interval [CI] -31 to -25); P < 0.001] in fasting insulin and a 23.9% reduction [(95% CI -28 to -19); P < 0.001] in 2-h insulin. Gaining on average 6.4 kg, the weight gain group experienced a 12.5% increase [(95% CI 9 to 16); P < 0.001] in fasting insulin and 32.8% increase [(95% CI 28 to 38); P < 0.001] in 2-h insulin. Using linear regression adjusting for differences in sex, age, family history of hypertension, baseline BMI, SBP and DBP, lifestyle risk factors, and their 5-year changes, weight loss was associated with a decrease in SBP of -1.8 mmHg (95% CI -2.8 to -0.7), whereas weight gain with an increase in SBP of 1.9 mmHg (95% CI 1.2 to 2.6), both with P less than 0.001. Adding fasting insulin, 2-h insulin, Δfasting insulin, and Δ2-h insulin only marginally attenuated the association, and furthermore, none of the insulin variables was significantly associated with SBP or DBP (P ≥ 0.08). The results for changes in DBP were similar to SBP.

CONCLUSION

Five-year weight changes associate with BP alterations independent of the insulin changes.

Weight maintenance: challenges, tools and strategies for primary care physicians

Obesity is recognized as a chronic disease and one of the major healthcare challenges facing us today. Weight loss can be achieved via lifestyle, pharmacological and surgical interventions, but weight maintenance remains a lifetime challenge for individuals with obesity. Guidelines for the management of obesity have highlighted the role of primary care providers (PCPs). This review examines the long-term outcomes of clinical trials to identify effective weight maintenance strategies that can be utilized by PCPs. Because of the broad nature of the topic, a structured PubMed search was conducted to identify relevant research articles, peer-reviewed reviews, guidelines and articles published by regulatory bodies. Trials have demonstrated the benefit of sustained weight loss in managing obesity and its comorbidities. Maintaining 5-10% weight loss for ≥1 year is known to ameliorate many comorbidities. Weight maintenance with lifestyle modification - although challenging - is possible but requires long-term support to reinforce diet, physical activity and behavioural changes. The addition of pharmacotherapy to lifestyle interventions promotes greater and more sustained weight loss. Clinical evidence and recently approved pharmacotherapy has given PCPs improved strategies to support their patients with maintenance of weight loss. Further studies are needed to assess the translation of these strategies into clinical practice.

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: Practical Considerations for Clinical Practice

PURPOSE

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) imparts an increased risk of adverse health outcomes in patients unable to achieve glycemic control. Patient education and individualization of treatment are important for effective management of T2D. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are a class of injectable glucose-lowering agents that lower A1C with added benefits of weight loss and improved cardiovascular risk markers. This review discusses the role of GLP-1RAs currently approved in the United States (exenatide, liraglutide, albiglutide, dulaglutide) for T2D management and characterizes the efficacy and safety profiles of individual GLP-1RAs.

CONCLUSIONS

GLP-1RAs are recommended as a preferred add-on agent to existing metformin monotherapy, as first-line therapy if metformin is contraindicated or poorly tolerated, and for use in combination with other oral glucose-lowering agents or basal insulin. Shorter-acting GLP-1RAs (exenatide and liraglutide) offer improved coverage of postprandial hyperglycemia, while longer-acting GLP-1RA formulations (exenatide extended-release, dulaglutide, and albiglutide) further improve fasting plasma glucose, which can result in additional A1C lowering. Reductions in body weight and blood pressure appear similar among individual agents, and small increases in heart rate are of unknown clinical relevance. Gastrointestinal adverse events abate over time with continued treatment and are less frequent with longer-acting GLP-1RAs. Hypoglycemia incidence is low but increased when GLP-1RAs are used with insulin secretagogues or insulin. GLP-1RAs target multiple pathophysiologic mechanisms in patients with T2D and improve glycemic control, although there are some differences within this drug class that may be relevant in clinical practice. Therefore, selection of the most appropriate treatment for individual patients is important.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with prehypertension in Shunde District, southern China

OBJECTIVE

To explore the prevalence and combined cardiovascular risk factors of prehypertension in southern China.

DESIGN

A retrospective study; the logistic regression model was used to find the risk factors of prehypertension.

SETTING

The study was conducted in Shunde District, southern China, using the community-based health check-up information.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants aged ≥35 years with complete health check-up information data between January 2011 and December 2013 were enrolled and divided into hypertension, prehypertension and optimal blood pressure (BP) groups. Prehypertension was further divided into low-range (BP 120-129/80-84 mm Hg) and high-range (BP 130-139/85-89 mm Hg) subgroups.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The prevalence of prehypertension and the combined cardiovascular risk factors within the prehypertensive subgroups.

RESULTS

Of the 5362 initially reviewed cases (aged ≥35 years), 651 were excluded because of missing data. The proportions of optimal BP, prehypertension and hypertension were 39.1%, 38.6% and 22.3%, respectively. The average age, proportion of male sex, overweight, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), dyslipidaemia and hyperuricaemia were significantly higher in the prehypertension group than in the optimal BP group (all p <0.05). Compared with low-range prehypertension, the proportions of overweight, dyslipidaemia and IFG were higher in the high-range prehypertension group (all p<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that overweight (OR=2.84, 95% CI 1.55 to 5.20), male sex (OR=2.19, 95% CI 1.39 to 3.45), age (per 10 years, OR=1.21, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.44, p=0.03) and hyperuricaemia (OR=1.70, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.54) were independent risk factors of prehypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

Prehypertension is highly prevalent in southern China. Prehypertensive individuals presented with many other cardiovascular risk factors. There was heterogeneity of combined risk factors within the prehypertensive subgroups.

Adenosine A₁ receptors in mouse pontine reticular formation modulate nociception only in the presence of systemic leptin

Human obesity is associated with increased leptin levels and pain, but the specific brain regions and neurochemical mechanisms underlying this association remain poorly understood. This study used adult male C57BL/6J (B6, n=14) mice and leptin-deficient, obese B6.Cg-Lep(ob)/J (obese, n=10) mice to evaluate the hypothesis that nociception is altered by systemic leptin levels and by adenosine A₁ receptors in the pontine reticular formation. Nociception was quantified as paw withdrawal latency (PWL) in s after onset of a thermal stimulus. PWL was converted to percent maximum possible effect (%MPE). After obtaining baseline PWL measures, the pontine reticular formation was microinjected with saline (control), three concentrations of the adenosine A₁ receptor agonist N(6)-p-sulfophenyladenosine (SPA), or super-active mouse leptin receptor antagonist (SMLA) followed by SPA 15 min later, and PWL was again quantified. In obese, leptin-deficient mice, nociception was quantified before and during leptin replacement via subcutaneous osmotic pumps. SPA was administered into the pontine reticular formation of leptin-replaced mice and PWL testing was repeated. During baseline (before vehicle or SPA administration), PWL was significantly (p=0.0013) lower in leptin-replaced obese mice than in B6 mice. Microinjecting SPA into the pontine reticular formation of B6 mice caused a significant (p=0.0003) concentration-dependent increase in %MPE. SPA also significantly (p<0.05) increased %MPE in B6 mice and in leptin-replaced obese mice, but not in leptin-deficient obese mice. Microinjection of SMLA into the pontine reticular formation before SPA did not alter PWL. The results show for the first time that pontine reticular formation administration of the adenosine A₁ receptor agonist SPA produced antinociception only in the presence of systemic leptin. The concentration-response data support the interpretation that adenosine A₁ receptors localized to the pontine reticular formation significantly alter nociception.

Development of new fatty liver, or resolution of existing fatty liver, over five years of follow-up, and risk of incident hypertension

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Approximately 50% of hypertensive patients have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but whether change in fatty liver status over time modifies risk of developing hypertension is uncertain. Our aim was to determine whether a change in fatty liver status (either development of new fatty liver, or resolution of existing fatty liver) over five years modified risk of incident hypertension at five year follow-up.

METHODS

11,448 patients without hypertension were examined at baseline and at five year follow-up, using a retrospective cohort study design. Fatty liver status (absent or present) was assessed at baseline and follow-up using standard ultrasound criteria. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident hypertension at follow-up were estimated controlling for potential confounders, compared to the reference group (patients who did not have fatty liver at either baseline or follow-up).

RESULTS

911 patients developed incident hypertension. Incident fatty liver developed during follow-up in 1418 patients and fatty liver at baseline resolved during follow-up in 684 patients. Developing incident fatty liver was associated with incident hypertension, even after adjustment for multiple confounders (aOR=1.60 (95% CI 1.30, 1.96; p<0.001). Further adjustment for change in body mass index between baseline and follow-up only slightly attenuated this association (aOR=1.36 (95% CI 1.10, 1.67; p=0.004). With resolution of fatty liver at follow-up, risk of incident hypertension was not different from the reference group (aOR=1.21 (95% CI 0.90, 1.63; p=0.21).

CONCLUSIONS

Development of incident fatty liver is associated with increased risk of hypertension.