A prospective study on association between 2 years change of waist circumference and incident hypertension in Han Chinese

BackgroundFew prospective studies on association between waist circumference and hypertension have taken account of the dynamic change of WC, which caused by lifestyle modification.MethodsAfter a baseline investigation, we conducted the first and the second follow-up assessments for subjects after 2 and 5 years, respectively. The difference value (D-value, the value at the first follow-up minus the value at baseline) in WC was calculated to evaluate 2 years change of WC. The association between 2 years change of WC and incident hypertension was analyzed by using Cox proportional hazards regression model.ResultsAmong 2778 participants free of hypertension at baseline and the first follow-up, 660 (23.8%) subjects developed hypertension over a period of 5 years (between the first and the second follow-up assessments). In both genders, the incidence density and HRs of hypertension were all increased with WC D-value regardless of their abdominal obesity status at baseline. Compared with participants who were non-abdominal obese both at baseline and first follow up, hypertension risk was higher in subjects who were abdominal obese both at baseline and the first follow-up, and in subjects who were non-abdominal obese at baseline but with abdominal obesity at the first follow up.ConclusionsWC dynamic change was associated with incident hypertension, and more WC reduction was associated with more hypertension risk decrease.