Associations of body fat and skeletal muscle with hypertension

Han, T. S., Al-Gindan, Y. Y., Govan, L. , Hankey, C. R. and Lean, M. E.J. (2019) Associations of body fat and skeletal muscle with hypertension. Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 21(2), pp. 230-238. (doi: 10.1111/jch.13456) (PMID:30525280)

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Abstract

Hypertension is known to be associated with obesity, while its relationship to skeletal muscle, SM (SM; a marker of general health and body function), remains uncertain. We analyzed population-based data of 22 591 men (mean age: 51.6 ± 16.9 years) and 27 845 nonpregnant women (50.6 ± 16.9 years) from Scottish Health Surveys (2003, 2008-2011) and Health Surveys for England (2003-2006, 2008-2013) including 2595 non-insulin- and 536 insulin-treated diabetic patients. Compared with normotensive individuals (no hypertension history with normal systolic [SBP < 140 mm Hg] and diastolic blood pressure [DBP < 90 mm Hg]), percent body fat (BF%) was significantly higher and percent SM lower (P < 0.001) in undetected (no hypertension history with raised SBP ≥ 140 and/or DBP ≥ 90 mm Hg), controlled (hypertension history with normal BP), uncontrolled (hypertension history with raised BP), and untreated hypertension. The prevalences of hypertension within BF% quintiles were 11.8%, 24.8%, 41.4%, 56.8%, and 71.6% and SM% quintiles were 67.5%, 53.3%, 39.5%, 27.4%, and 18.5%. Compared to referent groups (lowest BF% quintile or highest SM% quintile), odds ratio (age, sex, smoking, ethnicity, country, survey year, and diabetes adjusted) for having all types of hypertension in the highest BF% quintile was 5.5 (95% confidence interval = 5.0-5.9) and lowest SM% quintile was 2.3 (2.2-2.5). Compared with those without diabetes, individuals with diabetes had a 2.3-fold-2.6-fold greater risk of hypertension, independent of confounding factors and BF% or SM%. The associations of hypertension with BF% were higher than those with body mass index (BMI). In conclusion, both BF and SM should be considered when analyzing results from health surveys, rather than relying on BMI which does not discriminate between the two.

Item Type:Articles
Keywords:Aging, blood pressure, diabetes, health surveys, obesity.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Govan, Dr Lindsay and Lean, Professor Michael and Hankey, Dr Catherine and Algindan, Yasmin
Authors: Han, T. S., Al-Gindan, Y. Y., Govan, L., Hankey, C. R., and Lean, M. E.J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
Journal Name:Journal of Clinical Hypertension
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:1524-6175
ISSN (Online):1751-7176
Published Online:07 December 2018

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