.. During 2.3 years of follow-up, 19.1% (n = 97) of the men and 13.6% (n = 158) of the women developed incident hypertension. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for obesity (BMI ≥30) were 3.49 (1.59–7.66) and 2.60 (1.48–4.55) for men and women, respectively. A 1-point increase in BMI was associated with 8% (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.00–1.17) and 10% (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.05–1.16) increases in the incidence of hypertension in men and women, respectively.
Abdominal obesity (WC ≥90 cm in men and ≥85 cm in women) was positively associated with incident hypertension in both men (adjusted OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.10–2.91) and women (adjusted OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.09–2.40). A 1-cm increase in WC was associated with 4% (adjusted OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.07) and 4% (adjusted OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02–1.07) increases in the incidence of hypertension in men and women, respectively. The combination of abnormal BMI and WC has the highest risk for hypertension in both men (adjusted OR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.48–6.50) and women (adjusted OR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.43–4.40).
Conclusions: This study shows that BMI, WC, and an index that combined the two are independently associated with incident hypertension in a Chinese community-based population.
