Association of obesity with arterial stiffness in community populations aged 35-70 years in Ji'nan area,Shandong province

ObjectiveTo investigate obesity type and the association of obesity with arterial stiffness in community populations aged 35-70 years in Ji'nan area,Shandong province.MethodsFrom June 2011 to July 2013,10 079 permanent residents aged 35-70 years were recruited from 24 communities in Ji'nan area of Shandong province using random cluster sampling.Waist circumference (WC),height,weight,carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV),and fasting blood lipids were measured in all the participants and body mass index (BMI) and plasma induced arterial stiffness index (PAI) were calculated.ResultsThe values of cfPWV and PAI were 9.15±1.62 m/s and 2.27±0.96 for the participants with BMI<28 kg/m² and non-abdominal obesity (AO),9.82±1.78 m/s and 2.56±1.18 for those with BMI<28 kg/m² and AO,9.45±1.82 m/s and 2.44±1.19 for BMI≥28 kg/m² and non-AO,and 10.99±1.91 m/s and 3.21±1.71 for BMI≥28 kg/m² and AO,respectively.Compared to those with BMI<28 kg/m² and non-AO,the cfPWV and PAI were significantly increased in the participants with BMI<28 kg/m² and AO,BMI≥28 kg/m² and non-AO,and BMI≥28 kg/m² and AO (P<0.05 for all).Compared to those with BMI<28 kg/m² and AO,the cfPWV was significantly increased in the participants with BMI≥28 kg/m² and non-AO (P<0.05).Compared to those with BMI≥28 kg/m² and non-AO,the cfPWV and PAI were significantly increased in the participants with BMI≥28 kg/m² and AO (both P<0.05).Significant joint effect of WC and BMI on cfPWV and PAI were observed (F=61.366 and 42.682,both P<0.001).Compared to those with BMI<28 kg/m² and non-AO,the participants with BMI≥28 kg/m² and non-AO presented significantly increased risks of PAI>4 (odd ratiosOR=1.649,95% confidence interval95% CI:1.154-2.144) and cfPWV>10m/s (OR=1.551,95% CI:1.117-1.985)(both P<0.001);the participants with BMI<28 kg/m² and AO had significantly increased risks of PAI>4 (OR=1.764,95% CI:1.370-2.158) and cfPWV>10m/s (OR=1.577,95% CI:1.264-1.890)(both P<0.001);and the participants with BMI≥28 kg/m² and AO had significantly increased risks of PAI>4 (OR=5.666,95% CI:3.726-7.606) and cfPWV>10m/s (OR=4.631,95% CI:2.615-6.647)(both P<0.001),after adjusting for age,gender,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,and fasting plasma glucose.ConclusionBoth simple obesity and abdominal obesity are independent risk factors for arterial stiffness and there is a synergistic effect of WC and BMI on arterial stiffness in populations aged 35-70 years in Ji'nan area of Shandong province.