Waist-to-height ratio and new-onset hypertension in middle-aged and older adult females from 2011 to 2015: A 4-year follow-up retrospective cohort study from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

BackgroundCentral obesity was closely associated with hypertension. Middle-aged and older adult females, defined as those aged 45 and above, were more likely to suffer from central obesity. For waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was used as central obesity assessment, the object of this study was to illustrate the relationship between WHtR and the incidence of hypertension in middle-aged and older adult females in China. MethodsData used in this prospective cohort study was derived from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in a baseline survey from 2011 to 2012 with a follow-up duration of 4 years. The waist-to-height ratio was calculated as waist circumstance divided by height, and the cohort was divided into different groups based on WHtR level. The outcome variable was new-onset hypertension. ResultsOf the 2,438 participants included in the study, 1,821 (74.7%) had high WHtR levels (WHtR >= 0.5). As WHtR was closely related to new-onset hypertension in a multivariable logistics regression mode [OR: 7.89 (95% CI: 2.10-29.67)], individuals with high WHtR were also more likely to suffer from hypertension compared with low WHtR levels [OR: 1.34 (95% CI: 1.06-1.69)]. ConclusionWHtR is positively related to the risk of hypertension incidents among middle-aged and older adult females. Individuals with WHtR >= 0.5 were more likely to suffer from hypertension.

Automated summary

This study aimed to illustrate the relationship between waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and the incidence of hypertension in middle-aged and older adult females in China. Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), the WHtR was calculated and the cohort was divided into different groups based on WHtR level. The results showed that WHtR was closely related to the risk of hypertension incidents, with individuals with high WHtR more likely to suffer from hypertension compared to those with low WHtR levels.