Association Between Multiple Modifiable Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension among Asymptomatic Patients in Central Appalachia.
The central Appalachian region of the United States is disproportionately burdened with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and associated risk factors; however, research to inform clinical practice and policies and programs is sparse. This study aimed to examine the association between multiple modifiable risk factors for CVD and hypertension in asymptomatic patients in central Appalachia.



Between January 2011 and December 2012, 1629 asymptomatic individuals from central Appalachia participated in screening for subclinical atherosclerosis. Participants were asked to report their hypertension status (yes/no). In addition, data on two nonmodifiable risk factors (sex, age) and five modifiable risk factors (obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle) were collected. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess association between hypertension and risk factors.



Of the 1629 participants, approximately half (49.8%) had hypertension. Among people with hypertension, 31.4% were obese and 62.3% had hypercholesterolemia. After adjusting for sex and age, obesity and diabetes mellitus were associated with a more than twofold increased odds of having hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 2.02, confidence interval [CI] 1.57-2.60 and OR 2.30, CI 1.66-3.18, respectively). Hypercholesterolemia and sedentary lifestyle were associated with higher odds for hypertension (OR 1.26, CI 1.02-1.56 and OR 1.38, CI 1.12-1.70, respectively), compared with referent groups. Having two, three, and four to five modifiable risk factors was associated with increased odds of having hypertension by about twofold (OR 1.72, CI 1.21-2.44), 2.5-fold (OR 2.55, CI 1.74-3.74), and sixfold (OR 5.96, CI 3.42-10.41), respectively.



This study suggests that the odds of having hypertension increases with a higher number of modifiable risk factors for CVD. As such, implementing an integrated CVD program for treating and controlling modifiable risk factors for hypertension would likely decrease the future risk of CVD.
From the Department of Health Services Management and Policy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City.
Hadii M
HM
Mamudu
From the Department of Health Services Management and Policy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City.
Timir K
TK
Paul
From the Department of Health Services Management and Policy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City.
Liang
L
Wang
From the Department of Health Services Management and Policy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City.
Sreenivas P
SP
Veeranki
From the Department of Health Services Management and Policy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City.
Hemang B
HB
Panchal
From the Department of Health Services Management and Policy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City.
Arsham
A
Alamian
From the Department of Health Services Management and Policy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City.
Matthew
M
Budoff
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001061:Appalachian Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D015987:Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology