Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that an elevated ratio of subscapular to triceps skinfold thickness (SFR), one measure of truncal obesity, is associated with increased incidence of essential hypertension.
DESIGN: Data from the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study (NHEFS) were analyzed.
SUBJECTS: A cohort of 4303 women and 2579 men with complete data who were normotensive at baseline in 1971–1975.
MEASUREMENTS: Incidence of hypertension, blood pressure 160/95 mm Hg or greater or on blood pressure medication at follow-up in 1982–1984.
RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in risk of hypertension over approximately 10 y follow-up in white women aged 25–74 y with SFR in the fifth compared to the first quintile independent of age and body mass index (BMI) (relative risk=1.52, 95% confidence interval 1.13–2.06, P=0.006). The association was somewhat diminished after controlling for baseline blood pressure, change in BMI and other risk variables. An even stronger association was seen for subscapular skinfold and hypertension incidence. In white men aged 25–74 y, a significant association of high SFR with age-, BMI-adjusted risk of hypertension was seen (RR=1.41, 95% CI 1.01–1.96, P=0.04). Data for black women or black men failed to reveal significant variation in hypertension risk among quintiles of SFR or subscapular skinfold except in black women with low baseline BMI.
CONCLUSIONS: Data from NHEFS confirm the association of higher truncal obesity with increased incidence of hypertension in white women. Further studies are needed, especially in larger samples of black women.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gillum, R., Mussolino, M. & Madans, J. Body fat distribution and hypertension incidence in women and men. The NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study. Int J Obes 22, 127–134 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800554
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800554
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Comparison of Different Obesity Indices for Predicting Incident Hypertension
High Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Prevention (2017)
-
Reduction of plasma aldosterone and arterial stiffness in obese pre- and stage1 hypertensive subjects after aerobic exercise
Journal of Human Hypertension (2015)
-
Impact des ultrasons diffus combinés au travail musculaire sur plaque vibrante sur la modification de la composition corporelle de femmes modérément obèses
Obésité (2014)
-
Resistance exercise and aerobic exercise when paired with dietary energy restriction both reduce the clinical components of metabolic syndrome in previously physically inactive males
European Journal of Applied Physiology (2012)
-
Visceral adiposity, not abdominal subcutaneous fat area, is associated with high blood pressure in Japanese men: the Ohtori study
Hypertension Research (2011)