Hypertension In Korean Adults Research Articles

Effect of alcohol consumption on risk of hypertension based on alcohol-related facial flushing response: From the health examinees study

BackgroundAlcohol consumption is a significant public health concern in Korea, with many individuals engaging in risky drinking behaviors. This study aims to analyze the association between facial flushing responses and the progression of hypertension in Korean adults, stratified by gender, using a large-scale prospective cohort study. MethodsThis study included 39,868 participants (10,868 males and 29,000 females) from the health examinees cohort. Participants were divided into two groups according to their weekly drinking patterns (moderate and heavy) and facial flushing responses (non-flusher and flusher) for statistical analysis. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals between flushing response after alcohol consumption and hypertension risk. ResultsIn males, the flusher group with a moderate alcohol intake pattern had a decreased risk of incident hypertension compared with non-flushers. In females, the flusher group had relatively higher risk of pre-hypertension and hypertension compared to the non-flusher group. ConclusionThe association between facial flushing and hypertension varies depending on the level of alcohol consumption and should be considered in relation to gender differences. Further research is needed to understand the relationship between facial flushing response and the risk of hypertension based on alcohol consumption levels.

Predictive ability of the Chinese visceral adiposity index for incident hypertension in working-aged Koreans.

The Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) was developed to assess visceral adipose tissue in the Asian population. This study evaluated the predictive ability of the CVAI for incident hypertension in Korean adults. The study participants included 128,577 Koreans without hypertension. They were grouped in quartiles according to body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), visceral adipose index (VAI), and CVAI values. The Cox proportional hazard assumption was used to evaluate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for incident hypertension (adjusted HR [95% CI]) according to quartile level across a follow-up period of 6.9 years. Subgroup analyses were conducted by gender and obesity. The area under the curve was calculated to compare the predictive abilities of all indices (BMI, WC, VAI, and CVAI) for incident hypertension. The CVAI was proportionally associated with the risk of hypertension in all participants (quartile 1: reference; quartile 2: 1.71 [95% CI, 1.59 to 1.82]; quartile 3: 2.41 [95% CI, 2.25 to 2.58]; and quartile 4: 3.46 [95% CI, 3.23 to 3.71]). Time dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the CVAI was superior to BMI, WC, and VAI in predicting hypertension at the 2-year, 4-year, 6-year, and 8-year follow-ups. This finding was also observed in the gender and obesity subgroups. The predictive ability of the CVAI was greater in the women and non-obese subgroups than in the men and obese subgroups. The CVAI was a stronger predictor of hypertension than BMI, WC, and VAI.

Improvement and application of recommended food score for hypertension in Korean adults: the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

Addressing dietary factors to lower blood pressure can be a crucial strategy at the population level to mitigate the risk of hypertension. In a prior investigation, a tailored food score was used as a dietary index relevant to hypertension among Korean adults. This current study aims to assess the association between the overall quality of the diet, taking into account more precise food components, and evaluate the risk of developing hypertension. This prospective cohort study included 5,342 adults aged 40-70 without hypertension who participated in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) from 2001 to 2016. The improved Recommended Food Score for Hypertension (iRFSH) is a modified version of the Recommended Food Score to assess the consumption of foods recommended in the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet for Korean foods. A higher score reflects greater consumption of recommended foods, indicative of higher dietary quality. The maximum total score is 65. High blood pressure, which includes both hypertension and prehypertension, was analyzed using Cox proportional hazard regression models to examine its prospective relationship with iRFSH. Among 2,478 males and 2,864 females with 10.8 mean years of follow-up, a higher score of iRFSH was associated with a lower risk of hypertension in the highest quintile compared to the lowest quintile [total: hazard ratio (HR): 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.72, 0.87; female: HR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.62, 0.83]. Higher iRFSH is associated with a lower incidence of hypertension. Our results suggest that the iRFSH may be a potential tool for assessing dietary quality and dietary patterns and predicting the risk of hypertension in Korean adults.

Association of skeletal muscle mass and risk of hypertension in Korean adults: secondary analysis of data from the community-based prospective cohort study

Association of skeletal muscle mass and risk of hypertension in Korean adults: secondary analysis of data from the community-based prospective cohort study

Relationship between Perceived Stress, Obesity, and Hypertension in Korean Adults and Older Adults.

Perceived stress has a significant effect on metabolic diseases, including obesity and hypertension. However, the association between stress levels, obesity, and hypertension according to age and sex is not fully understood. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between stress levels and obesity and hypertension in Korean adults and older adults. We analyzed data from the 2015 survey of the Korea National Physical Fitness Project conducted by the Korea Institute of Sports Science and the Korea Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Of the 3457 participants, 2829 were adults (20-64 years old) and 628 were older adults (≥65 years old). The correlation between obesity and hypertension according to the degree of perceived stress (low, medium, and high) was analyzed using the chi-square test. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the influence of perceived stress levels on obesity and hypertension. Age, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, exercise frequency, smoking, breakfast, and sleeping hours were included as covariates. In adult males, perceived stress levels, age, and diastolic blood pressure were found to have a significant impact on obesity rates, whereas age and breakfast had a significant effect on hypertension rates. In adult females, age and systolic blood pressure were found to significantly influence obesity rates, whereas age, BMI, and exercise frequency had a significant impact on hypertension rates. In older adult females, perceived stress levels and systolic blood pressure were found to significantly impact obesity rates, and sleep duration influenced the rates of hypertension. The effect of perceived stress level on obesity and hypertension rates was less pronounced in the elderly population than in the adult population. This study revealed age and sex differences in the relationship between perceived stress, obesity, and hypertension among Koreans. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the complex relationship between perceived stress and metabolic disorders and emphasize the need for a deeper understanding of the specific factors involved in the prevention and management of metabolic diseases.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Physical Fitness and Risk of Hypertension in Korean Adults Aged 20-59.

Intervention for hypertension in young age groups is very important. Adults in their 30s and 40s in Korea are the main producers of economic activity. Stress in work life, frequent drinking and smoking, an unhealthy diet, and a lack of physical activity are the biggest factors that increase the risk of high blood pressure. This study analyzed obesity-related body composition, physical fitness, and risk according to age and sex by analyzing population-based hypertension and physical fitness trends in individuals aged 20-59 years in 360,321 Korean adults via National Physical Award Project (NFAP) data points collected from 2012 to 2019. The functional fitness test battery for adults was composed of seven components: (a) aerobic endurance (2-min step), (b) upper body muscle strength (hand grip strength), (c) lower body muscle endurance (sit-ups), (d) flexibility (sit and reach), (e) cardiopulmonary endurance (progressive aerobic capacity endurance run), (f) body compositions (body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference [WC]), and (g) blood pressure. For all items, there was a significant difference in blood pressure according to people's physical fitness levels. Specifically, for obesity-related BMI and WC, the higher the obesity, the higher the blood pressure (post hoc, obesity > overweight > normal > underweight). It was also confirmed that the lower the grade, that is, the weaker the grip, the higher the blood pressure (post hoc, 4 > 3 > 2 > 1). Subsequently, in identifying the risk factors for high blood pressure, the physical fitness level (Model 1) and obesity-related indicator (Model 2) differed by 1.024 and 1.335 times, respectively. Finally, it was confirmed that the risk of high blood pressure in the age and gender model (Model 3) increased by 1.388 times. In addition to the recommendation for changes in blood pressure, significant differences in blood pressure according to physical fitness and significant effects on blood pressure risk in terms of age, obesity-related body composition, and physical fitness were confirmed.

Coffee intake and hypertension in Korean adults: results from KNHANES 2012–2016

BackgroundCoffee is the most popular and widely consumed drink in the world. Coffee consumption seems to have both benefits and risk with respect to hypertension; results from studies evaluating effect of frequency of coffee consumption on risk of hypertension are mixed and inconsistent. Hence, we investigated the association of coffee consumption and hypertension in Korean adults.MethodsData from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2012–2016 was obtained and 12,133 eligible participants were selected. The coffee consumption was attained using a food frequency questionnaire. Subsequently coffee intake was grouped into two categories: ≤2 and > 2 servings per day. Hypertension status was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg, use of antihypertensive drug treatment, or both. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association of coffee consumption and hypertension.ResultsLogistic regression analysis showed that consumption of more than two servings of coffee a day was inversely associated with hypertension with odds ratio (OR) 0.84 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73–0.99). Similar results were seen in the propensity score-matched analysis (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.69–0.98). Adults having age more than median value (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.65–0.89) and normal cholesterol (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.70–0.99) had significantly inverse association with hypertension, when coffee consumption was more than two servings daily.ConclusionsMore than two servings of coffee intake per day was inversely associated with hypertension as compared to consumption of ≤ 2 servings coffee per day.

The relationship between anemia and hyperuricemia and hypertension in Korean adults: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2018

Objective It is unclear whether uric acid (UA) has a negative or positive effect on anemia, and this may vary depending on the presence or absence of chronic disease such as hypertension (HTN). The present study was conducted to assess the relationship between anemia and hyperuricemia in Korean adults with or without hypertension. Methods Data from 16,740 adults (age ≥20 years) in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016 − 2018) were analyzed. Results Several key findings were identified. First, after adjusting for the related variables in the non-HTN group, the odds ratio (OR) of anemia (hemoglobin [Hb] ≥ 13.0 mg/dL in men and ≥12.0 mg/dL in women), using the normouricemia (UA < 7.0 mg/dL in men and UA < 6.0 mg/dL in women) as a reference, was inversely significant for the hyperuricemia (UA ≥ 7.0 mg/dL in men and ≥6.0 mg/dL in women) in the overall population (OR, 0.589; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.409–0.848) and women (OR, 0.575; 95% CI, 0.363–0.909) but not in men (OR, 0.836; 95% CI, 0.441–1.586). Second, after adjusting for the related variables in the HTN group, the OR of anemia, using the normouricemia as a reference, was positively significant for the hyperuricemia in the overall population (OR, 1.501; 95% CI, 1.167–1.930), men (OR, 1.706; 95% CI, 1.154–2.523), and women (OR, 1.512; 95% CI, 1.079–2.210). Conclusions Hyperuricemia was positively associated with anemia in men and women with HTN. Hyperuricemia was inversely associated with anemia in women without HTN but not in men without HTN.

Current Status of Cardiovascular Disease According to the Duration of Hypertension in Korean Adults.

Today, medical technology and healthcare advances have led to an increased life expectancy; however, the prevalence of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, stroke, and cardiovascular events is continuously rising. In particular, hypertension is a crucial factor in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and it is known that prevention and management are essential. This study investigates the prevalence and management of hypertension in Korean adults and evaluates its correlation with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke. The Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (KNHANES) database was utilized for this study (https://knhanes.cdc.go.kr). The subjects of this survey were sampled to represent the entire population of Korea. The study aims to assess the risk of CVD and stroke according to the duration of hypertension. We also examined the impact of hypertension control on the risk of CVD and stroke. This study is a retrospective cross-sectional study, so future risks cannot be assessed, but only the disease status at the same time point. A total of 61,379 subjects were enrolled in the KNHANES database, representing Korea's population of 49,068,178 subjects. The prevalence of hypertension was 25.7% (9,965,618 subjects) of the total population. The prevalence of hypertension increased rapidly with the age of the population. As the duration of hypertension increased, the risks of CVD and stroke also increased. When hypertension lasts longer than 20 years, ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke prevalence were 14.6%, 5.0%, and 12.2%, respectively. However, achieving a target blood pressure (BP) goal below 140/90 mmHg reduced the risk of all CVD and stroke by nearly half. Nevertheless, fewer than two-thirds of patients in Korea with hypertension achieved this targeted blood pressure goal. Our study confirmed that the prevalence of hypertension in Korean adults was higher than a quarter but also showed that the risk of CVD and stroke was significantly reduced by achieving optimal blood pressure control. Based on these results, policy efforts are needed to reach the target BP and improve the treatment rates for hypertension in Korea.

Sleep Deficit as a Risk Factor for Hypertension in Korean Adults

This study aims to evaluate the association between sleep duration and hypertension in Korean adults aged 30 and older. This is a population-based cross-sectional study using the 2020 Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey data. Study subjects numbered 3984 after excluding people with missing data for key exposures and outcome variables. Of the study subjects, 18.8% (n = 748) sleep for less than 6 h a day. Increased risk for hypertension was associated with being male, of old age, unemployed, of low educational achievement, and overweight, as well as drinking, smoking, stress, and short sleep duration. The prevalence of sleep deficit was associated with sex, age, education level, income, and health insurance type. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify whether sleep duration affects the risk of hypertension. In the unadjusted model, the odds ratio (OR) of having hypertension was lower among people sleeping for 7.0–7.9 h (OR = 0.52, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.42–0.64) than those sleeping for fewer than 6 h per day. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors (sex, age, education level, occupation, and health insurance), the OR for 7.0–7.9 h remained significant (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.59–0.92). This association was not significant when the model was further adjusted for health-related factors (smoking, drinking, physical activity, BMI level, and stress). Measures to promote adequate sleep duration should be included in programs to prevent and manage hypertension.

PS-C23-8: COFFEE INTAKE AND RISK OF HYPERTENSION IN KOREAN ADULTS: RESULTS FROM KNHANES 2012–2016

Introduction: Coffee is the most popular and widely consumed drink in South Korea. Coffee consumption seems to have both benefits and risk with respect to hypertension. But, results from studies evaluating effect of frequency of coffee consumption on risk of hypertension are mixed and inconsistent. Hence, this study investigated the effect of frequency of coffee consumption on risk of hypertension in Korean adults. Methods: Data from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES 2012–2016) was obtained and 12133 eligible participants were selected. The consumption of coffee was obtained at baseline using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Subsequently coffee intake was categorized into three categories (cups/day): &lt; 1, 1–3, and &gt; 3 cups/day. Hypertension status was defined as a systolic blood pressure &gt; 140 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure &gt; 90 mmHg, use of antihypertensive drug treatment, or both. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the effect of coffee consumption on risk of hypertension. Results: Fifty-five percent participants drank coffee 1–3 cups coffee/day. A total of 2359 participants had hypertension. In all participants more than 3 cups of coffee intake in a day was significantly reduced the risk of hypertension with Odds Ratio (OR) 0.76 (95%C.I. 0.65,0.89). Participants in middle age (40–59 years) group OR 0.76 (95% C.I. 0.63,0.93), normal range BMI OR 0.65 (95% C.I. 0.52,0.80), not diabetic OR 0.79 (95% C.I. 0.64,0.98), normal cholesterol OR 0.76 (95% C.I. 0.63,0.94) had protective effect of coffee consumption against risk of hypertension. Conclusion: The beneficial effect of &gt; 3 cups of coffee intake in a day were seen in middle age, normal BMI, not diabetic and normal cholesterol participants compared to consumption of &lt; 1 cup/day.

The Association between Air Pollutants Exposure with Pre- and Hypertension by Vitamin C Intakes in Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study from the 2013-2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination.

Oxidative stress and systemic inflammation are the main pathways by which air pollutants cause hypertension (HTN). Vitamin C intake may reduce the risk of HTN caused by air pollutants. This study aimed to investigate the association between air pollutants and pre-HTN and HTN in Korean adults and whether these associations were modified by vitamin C intake, using data from the 2013-2016 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Cross-sectional study. This study used data from the KNHANES VI (2013-2015) and VII (2016) along with the data from the annual air pollution report of the Ministry of Environment. We included 11,866 adults who had responded to a semi-food frequency questionnaire. We used survey logistic regression models to evaluate the association of ambient PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3 with pre-HTN and HTN according to vitamin C intake. After adjusting for potential covariates, exposure to ambient PM10, SO2, NO2, and CO was significantly associated with a high prevalence of pre-HTN and HTN, whereas exposure to O3 was significantly associated with a low prevalence of pre-HTN and HTN. In particular, as the air pollutant scores increased (severe air pollution), the prevalence of pre-HTN and HTN increased in a dose-dependent manner (highest score vs. lowest score, OR=1.85, 95% CI=1.39-2.46, p for trend <.0001). However, these associations were found to be pronounced in adults with low vitamin C intake (highest score vs. lowest score, OR=2.30, 95% CI=1.50-3.54, p for trend <.0001), whereas the statistical significance disappeared for adults with high vitamin C intake (highest score vs. lowest score, OR=1.40, 95% CI=0.93-2.12, p for trend=0.007). Exposure to air pollutants such as PM10, SO2, NO2, and CO may increase the prevalence of pre-HTN and HTN among Korean adults. In addition, a high intake of vitamin C may help prevent pre-HTN and HTN caused by air pollutants.

Prevalence and management of hypertension in Korean adults

Background: Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and death worldwide; however, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments that lower blood pressure can reduce this risk. Therefore, screening for hypertension is highly recommended for all adults.Current Concepts: The prevalence of hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure &gt;140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure &gt;90 mmHg, is estimated to be 29.0% in Korean adults aged ≥19 years and 34.2% in those aged ≥30 years. No significant change is observed in age-standardized hypertension in recent times; however, the crude prevalence of hypertension is increasing owing to rapid population aging in Korea. The awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension in Korean adults have improved significantly to 72.0%, 66.0%, and 48.0%, respectively. Notably, the number of patients with hypertension who consistently use antihypertensive drugs is gradually increasing.Discussion and Conclusion: Although management of hypertension has rapidly improved in Korea, there is much scope for further improvement. Awareness and treatment rates remain &lt;50% among young patients (aged &lt;50 years) with hypertension; therefore, active management of young adults with hypertension is necessary for optimal control of blood pressure and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Reduction in the discrepancies in hypertension prevalence and management based on socioeconomic status remains challenging.

Association between Education Level and Hypertension in Korean Adults Over 30 Years Old: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019

Association between Education Level and Hypertension in Korean Adults Over 30 Years Old: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019

Serum folate levels and hypertension

We aimed to examine the association between serum folate levels and hypertension in Korean adults. Our study population was 6343 Korean adults whose blood pressure and folate levels were measured in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2018. We aggregated the study populations into quintiles according to serum folate levels (1.5–4.3, 4.4–5.7, 5.8–7.5, 7.6–10.3, and 10.4–35.9 ng/mL). Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were used to analyze the relationships between serum folate levels, blood pressure, and hypertension. The weighted average of serum folate levels was 7.4 ng/mL, and the weighted prevalence of hypertension was 30.4% in the study populations. After adjusting for all potential confounders, compared to those in the lowest quintile of serum folate levels, systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the people in the other quintiles were not significantly different. The linear relationship between serum folate levels and blood pressure was not statistically significant. The odds for hypertension were not significantly different across the quintiles of serum folate levels. This study showed high serum folate levels was not significantly associated with lowering hypertension in Korean adults.

Phytochemical index and hypertension in Korean adults using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2008–2019

Although previous in vivo and in vitro studies have reported the beneficial effects of phytochemical-rich food on cardiovascular health, limited information is available regarding its' health effect on the community-dwelling population. This is especially true in Korea. Here, we examined the cross-sectional association between phytochemical levels and hypertension in Korean adults. We analyzed data from 38,198 Koreans aged ≥30 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2019) and met the study's inclusion criteria. The Korean version of the Phytochemical Index (PI) was computed based on 24 h recall data. Hypertension was defined based on the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association definition in 2017. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between PI and hypertension. In the multivariable adjusted model, participants in the highest PI quintile had a significantly low prevalence of hypertension (Odd ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.79-0.95). A dose-response analysis confirmed the inverse linearity between PI and hypertension (p for nonlinearity = 0.2634). Consumption of phytochemical-rich foods may lower the prevalence of hypertension. A large-scale, prospective cohort study is required to validate these findings.

Optimal Frequency Intensity of Physical Activity to Reduce the Risk of Hypertension in the Korean Population

PURPOSE: Regular physical activity (PA) is an effective lifestyle modification for preventing hypertension. This study aimed to analyze the optimal frequency of PA required to reduce the incidence of hypertension in the Korean population. Most Korean studies have included only small samples and limited age ranges.METHODS: The present study analyzed 16,299,865 participants aged ≥20 years (44.25±12.74 years) from the 2009 to 2012 Korean National Health Insurance Corporation Survey database. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess the frequency and intensity of physical activity. Hazard ratios for incident hypertension were analyzed by physical activity participation, age, and sex using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models, with a non-regular physical activity group as reference.RESULTS: A total of 1,322,674 cases of incident hypertension were identified during the mean follow-up period of over 3 years. Hazard ratios for incident hypertension increased with age, with values of 50.4 and 56.1 for men and women in the older age group, respectively. Hazard ratios for incident hypertension were significantly lower in the regular PA group of middle-aged (4%) and older (7%) adults than in the non-regular PA group. The study revealed that moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA 3-5 times/week was most effective in reducing the risk of incident hypertension in middle-aged and older adults but not in young adults. We observed no additional lowering of incident hypertension risk in the group undergoing moderate-to-vigorous PA at a frequency of 6-7 days/week compared to the 35 days/week group.CONCLUSIONS: We suggest PA at a frequency of 3-5 times/week for the prevention of incident hypertension in Korean adults.

Joint Effect of Alcohol Drinking and Environmental Cadmium Exposure on Hypertension in Korean Adults: Analysis of Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2008 to 2013.

Hypertension is a common disease found in 1.13 billion adults worldwide. Several animal studies have provided evidence of the joint effect of alcohol drinking and cadmium exposure on hypertension. However, no epidemiologic study has examined the association between these 2 risk factors and hypertension. Therefore, we examined the individual effects of alcohol drinking and cadmium and the joint effect of their coexposure on hypertension in the general population. We analyzed data from 8,403 South Korean adults who had been randomly assigned to the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008 to 2013. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the association of alcohol drinking and blood cadmium concentration with blood pressure and the odds ratio (OR) for hypertension. The weighted prevalence of hypertension and high-risk drinking was 25.7 and 13.6%, respectively. The weighted geometric mean of blood cadmium levels was 0.94μg/L (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93 to 0.96). After adjusting for demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, health-related behaviors, and dietary and disease variables, the OR for hypertension in the group with the high-risk alcohol drinking was 1.67 (95% CI: 1.34 to 2.06) compared with the group without high-risk alcohol drinking. When the highest and the lowest blood cadmium quartiles were compared, the OR for hypertension was 1.46 (95% CI: 1.15 to 1.86). The positive joint effect of high-risk drinking and blood cadmium levels was statistically significant for systolic blood pressure (SBP; p=0.037) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP; p<0.001). Our results show that heavy alcohol drinking had a joint effect with cadmium exposure to increase the risk of hypertension. Future efforts are needed to reduce alcohol drinking and environmental cadmium exposure to prevent hypertension in the general population.

Smoking Cessation, Weight Change, Diabetes, and Hypertension in Korean Adults

This study investigates the association of smoking cessation and postcessation weight gain with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. A total of 96,524 individuals without diabetes mellitus and hypertension aged ≥20 years between 2006 and 2008 were included, with follow-up until December 31, 2015. Smoking status and weight changes were monitored for 2 years. Hazard ratios and 95% CIs were calculated for the respective risks of the 2 conditions. Analyses were completed in 2020. Compared with current smokers, the adjusted hazard ratios for the risk of type 2 diabetes and hypertension were 0.90 (95% CI=0.85, 0.96) and 1.00 (95% CI=0.95, 1.05) in recent quitters, 0.89 (95% CI=0.84, 0.95) and 0.92 (95% CI=0.88, 0.97) in long-term quitters, and 0.82 (95% CI=0.78, 0.86) and 0.92 (95% CI=0.89, 0.95) in never smokers. Compared with current smokers, the adjusted hazard ratios for the risk of type 2 diabetes and hypertension were 0.86 (95% CI=0.80, 0.93) and 0.98 (95% CI=0.92, 1.04) in recent quitters with no weight gain, 0.94 (95% CI=0.87, 1.03) and 1.00 (95% CI=0.94, 1.07) in those with 0.1-5 kg weight gain, 0.93 (95% CI=0.73, 1.19) and 1.14 (95% CI=0.96, 1.36) in those with 5.1-10 kg weight gain, and 1.49 (95% CI=0.84, 2.62) and 1.10 (95% CI=0.68, 1.77) in those with a weight gain of >10 kg. Smoking cessation with no subsequent weight gain is associated with a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, weight gain after smoking cessation attenuates the reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. The association between recent quitting and incident hypertension was nonsignificant, whereas long-term quitters had reduced risk of developing hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Identifying Interactions between Dietary Sodium, Potassium, Sodium-Potassium Ratios, and FGF5 rs16998073 Variants and Their Associated Risk for Hypertension in Korean Adults.

Hypertension is affected by both genetic and dietary factors. This study aimed to examine the interaction between dietary sodium/potassium intake, sodium–potassium ratios, and FGF5 rs16998073 and link these with increased risk for developing hypertension. Using data from the Health Examinee (HEXA) Study of the Korean Genome and Epidemiologic Study (KoGES), we were able to identify a total of 17,736 middle-aged Korean adults who could be included in our genome-wide association study (GWAS) to confirm any associations between hypertension and the FGF5 rs16998073 variant. GWAS analysis revealed that the FGF5 rs16698073 variant demonstrated the strongest association with hypertension in this population. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between dietary intake of sodium, potassium, and sodium–potassium ratios and the FGF5 rs16998073 genotypes (AA, AT, TT) and any increased risk of hypertension. Carriers with at least one minor T allele for FGF5 rs16998073 were shown to be at significantly higher risk for developing hypertension. Male TT carriers with a daily sodium intake ≥2000 mg also demonstrated an increased risk for developing hypertension compared to the male AA carriers with daily sodium intake <2000 mg (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.41, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) = 1.84–3.15, p-interaction < 0.0001). Female AA carriers with a daily potassium intake ≥3500 mg showed a reduced risk for hypertension when compared to female AA carriers with a daily potassium intake <3500 mg (AOR = 0.75. 95% CIs = 0.58–0.95, p-interaction < 0.0001). Male TT carriers in the mid-tertile for sodium–potassium ratio values showed the highest odds ratio for hypertension when compared to male AA carriers in the lowest-tertile for sodium–potassium ratio values (AOR = 3.03, 95% CIs = 2.14–4.29, p-interaction < 0.0001). This study confirmed that FGF5 rs16998073 variants do place their carriers (men and women) at increased risk for developing hypertension. In addition, we showed that high daily intake of sodium exerted a synergistic effect for hypertension when combined with FGF5 rs16998073 variants in both genders and that dietary sodium, potassium, and sodium–potassium ratios all interact with FGF5 rs16998073 and alter the risk of developing hypertension in carriers of either gender among Koreans.