Association of multiple anthropometric indices with hypertension in 944,760 elderly Chinese people.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to update the latest data on the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) in the elderly Chinese population and to assess relationships between new anthropometric indices and HTN.

METHODS: Data were obtained from the Basic Public Health Service (BPHS) survey for Jiangsu Province, China. A total of 944,760 people aged 65 years and older were included in this study. Blood pressure (BP) was measured by trained investigators. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), conicity index (COI), body roundness index (BRI), and a body shape index (ABSI) were included in the analysis as anthropometric indices. Logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate the association of anthropometric indices with HTN.

RESULTS: The prevalence of HTN among elderly residents of Jiangsu Province was 64.7% (95% CI: 64.6%-64.8%). After adjusting for multiple covariates, all anthropometric indices except ABSI showed significant nonlinear positive dose-response associations with HTN across sex (pnonlinear < 0.001). Among participants with BMI < 28 kg/m2, abnormal weight, WC, WtHR, BRI, COI, and ABSI were positively associated with HTN.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HTN in the elderly in Jiangsu Province is gradually increasing. It is necessary to consider the combination of ABSI and COI with BMI for screening elderly individuals for HTN in follow-up prospective studies.