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Overweight and obesity in hypertension
The Quarterly Journal of Medicine
|March 1, 1985
Summary
Overweight and obesity are common in hypertensive patients. While body mass index (BMI) did not correlate with blood pressure in this study, weight reduction is still advised for managing hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Metabolic Disorders
- Public Health
Background:
- Established correlation between body weight, blood pressure, and hypertension prevalence.
- Limited research on overweight-hypertension link at elevated blood pressure levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate overweight and hypertension degree in a hypertensive cohort.
- Examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure levels.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 1795 adult hypertensive patients.
- Utilized body mass index (BMI) nomogram for overweight/obesity assessment.
- Analyzed correlation between BMI, age, and blood pressure, with and without antihypertensive medication.
Main Results:
- Over one-third of subjects were overweight, and over one-third were obese.
- No significant correlation found between BMI and blood pressure in patients not on medication.
- BMI showed a negative trend with age, while blood pressure correlated positively with age.
- Higher BMI was associated with a greater percentage of patients in the 90-104 mmHg diastolic pressure range.
Conclusions:
- Confirms high prevalence of overweight/obesity among hypertensive individuals.
- Suggests many obese hypertensives have mild pressure elevation.
- Emphasizes potential benefits of weight reduction for blood pressure management in this population.
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