Implications of increased weight and waist circumference on vascular risk in an older Chinese population: the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study.
BACKGROUND
The relationships between weight and waist on vascular risk are well described, but the long-term impact of these parameters is less clearly defined, particularly in Chinese populations.


METHODS
Ten thousand four hundred and ten older subjects (50-85 years) were recruited and blood pressure, anthropometric, and fasting vascular risk factors measured. Socioeconomic and demographic data, including self-reported weight and waist gain since 18 years. The association of weight and waist gain with these vascular risk factors was analysed.


RESULTS
Weight, and particularly waist gain were associated with a more adverse vascular risk factor profile, with the most adverse profile associated with gains in both weight and waist. Anthropometric gains were associated with increased risk even in non-obese subjects (p<0.05). Even after adjustment for a range of demographic and socioeconomic factors, waist gain was associated with additional risk of having the metabolic syndrome and its components and self-reported vascular disease in those centrally obese subjects (p<0.05 for all).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased weight and waist increased the level of vascular risk factors and self-reported disease in both non-obese and obese subjects. The high prevalence of vascular risk factors in this population forewarns of a major developing health burden in the rapidly modernising 1.2 billion Chinese population.
Thomas
G Neil
GN
Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Lao
X Q
XQ
Jiang
C Q
CQ
McGhee
Sarah M
SM
Zhang
W S
WS
Adab
Peymane
P
Lam
Tai Hing
TH
Cheng
K K
KK
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D044466:Asian People; D001835:Body Weight; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio