Obesity-related hypertension: Findings from The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2010

We aimed to investigate the association of various obesity parameters and phenotypes with hypertension in nationally representative Korean adults. Among adults aged 19 years and older who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2008–2010, a total of 16,363 subjects (8,184 men and 8,179 women) were analyzed. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher or taking antihypertensive medication. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Higher obesity parameters [body mass index (BMI) representing general obesity, waist circumference (WC) representing central obesity, and percentage body fat (PBF) representing elevated body fat] were consistently associated with increased odds of prevalent hypertension (OR, 7.54; 95% CI, 5.89–9.65 for BMI ≥30 vs. 18.5–23; OR, 3.97; 95% CI, 3.41–4.63 for WC ≥95 cm in males and ≥90 cm in females vs. p trends