[The relationship between body mass index, hypertension and all-cause mortality in the populaton over 55 year old in Beijing].
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between body mass index (BMI), hypertension and all-cause mortality in the elderly population in Beijing.


METHODS
In 1992, a cohort of 3 257 people above 55 years old was selected from 3 different areas of Beijing, i.e. urban and suburbs (both plain and mountain areas). Information on physical condition, history of chronic diseases, self-perceived health, as well as smoking and drinking status was collected. Blood pressure, body height and weight were measured among 2 086 of 3 257 subjects.


RESULTS
BMI was decreasing with age, while the prevalence of hypertension increased with age. Meanwhile the prevalence of hypertension increased with age as well as with BMI. There was a reverse relationship between BMI and all-cause mortality, i.e. the risk of death was 39.0% lower for those with BMI = 20.0 - 24.9 kg/m(2) (Hazard ratio: 0.61, 95% Confidence interval: 0.49 - 0.75) and 62% lower for those with BMI >/= 25.0 kg/m(2) (Hazard ratio: 0.38%, 95% Confidence interval: 0.29 - 0.49) than those with BMI < 20.0 kg/m(2). After controlling for age, gender, residential place, hypertension as well as self-perceive health status and cognition function, low BMI remained a significant and independent predictor to death.


CONCLUSIONS
The distribution of BMI was different in elderly from the youth. The findings suggested that it was important to control the body weight among the elderly hypertensives.
Fang
Xianghua
X
Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing 100053, China.
Tang
Zhe
Z
Xiang
Manjun
M
Liu
Hongjun
H
Chen
Biao
B
Meng
Chen
C
Wu
Xiaoguang
X
Diao
Lijun
L
Liu
Xianghong
X
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002423:Cause of Death; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data