PP.32.07] DISTRIBUTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK INDICATORS ACCORDING TO BLOOD PRESSURE STATUS IN THE GERMAN ADULT POPULATION

Abstract

Objective: About one third of the German adult population is affected by hypertension, which is often accompanied by other metabolic and lifestyle-related changes that may act synergistically to increase the risk of cardiovascular and renal disorders. We thus aimed to describe the distribution of several common cardiovascular risk factors and socio-demographic characteristics according to blood pressure (BP) levels in a nationally representative sample of the adult German population 2008-2011. Design and method: Cross-sectional analyses were performed in 6788 participants aged 18–79 years of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1) with available urine and blood measurements as well as information on BP and BMI. Participants were grouped in tertiles according to their systolic BP (sysBP), stratified by 20-year age groups and sex. Characteristics including serum glucose, cholesterol, uric acid, an urinary estimate of potassium intake (estK), and proportions of smokers, persons with high socioeconomic status and those without any sports activity were compared between tertiles. The association of sysBP as a continuous variable adjusted for age, sex and BMI with several of these cardiovascular risk factors was also evaluated in linear regression models. Finally, least-squares means of risk factors adjusted for age, sex and BMI were compared between BP-categories classified according to the guidelines of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH). Results: Except for estK and investigated characteristics of physical activity and socioeconomic status, all risk factors differed significantly (P< = 0.01) between tertiles of sysBP. Results were also confirmed in linear regression models, with an additional inverse association emerging between estK and sysBP after BMI-adjustment. Least-squares means of serum uric acid, glucose and cholesterol adjusted for age, sex and BMI increased by 0.15 mg/dL, 2.3 mg/dL and 12 mg/dL, respectively, from those with optimal BP to those with hypertension grade 1–3. Mean estK was 160 mg/d lower in participants with hypertensive BP-values compared to those with optimal BP. Conclusions: In the general adult German population, several cardiovascular risk indicators differ according to BP-status. Further analyses should investigate which of these (potentially modifiable) factors are independently associated with BP.