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Comparison of Different Obesity Indices for Predicting Incident Hypertension

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Abstract

Introduction

Obesity is well recognized to be an important risk factor for hypertension (HTN), but it is not clear which obesity indices have stronger association with HTN.

Aim

To evaluate the ability of different obesity indices, including visceral adiposity index (VAI), hypertriglyceridemic-waist (HTGW) phenotype, a body shape index (ABSI), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) as possible hypertension (HTN) predictor in a high-risk population.

Methods

Seven years follow-up data in first-degree relatives of consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes aged 30–70 years without diabetes and HTN with at least one follow-up examination (n = 1417) were analysed. Discriminatory capabilities were examined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the strength of association between obesity indices and HTN.

Results

Among the indices, the highest quintile compared with the lowest quintile of WHtR and WC was more strongly associated with HTN in age and sex adjusted models [odds ratio (95% CI); WHtR: 4.02 (2.36, 6.85) and WC: 3.26 (2.05, 5.20)]. Those with HTGW phenotype was 2.3 (1.54, 3.35) times more likely to develop HTN than those with normal WC normal triglyceride. On ROC curve analysis, WHtR (63.1%; 59.6, 66.7) and WC (61.7%, 58.0, 65.4) had the higher area under the ROC.

Conclusions

Although higher values of VAI, BMI, WHR and HTGW were associated with the risk of HTN, WHtR and WC was more strongly associated with the development of HTN, while the ABSI showed weaker association.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Mr. M. Abyar for technical computer assistance and all of the participating FDRs. This study was partly funded by the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

Authors contributions

MJ designed the study, performed statistical analyses and interpreted the data and drafted the manuscript; AA and MA, recruited samples, contributed to interpretation of results and revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final version submitted for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Mohsen Janghorbani, Ashraf Aminorroaya & Masoud Amini

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Mohsen Janghorbani

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  1. Mohsen Janghorbani
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Correspondence to Mohsen Janghorbani.

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This study has been approved by the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences ethical committee.

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Informed consent was obtained from all participants for being included in the study.

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Janghorbani, M., Aminorroaya, A. & Amini, M. Comparison of Different Obesity Indices for Predicting Incident Hypertension. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 24, 157–166 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-017-0186-3

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