Risk Of Hypertension Research Articles

VISÍVEL E INVISÍVEL DA HIPERTENSÃO ARTERIAL SISTÊMICA ENTRE PROFISSIONAIS DE ENFERMAGEM

Descriptive, qualitative approach aims to understand the perception of nursing professionals about the risks for hypertension from the various demands of their daily work. Its relevance is legitimized both the clinical point of view, social, and management of people in the professional world of nursing, for reflections about the possible prevention of this disease and / or complications there of. The same was done in a coronary care unit (CCU) of Cuiabá-MT, which data collection occurred through semi-structured interviews conducted with fourteen (14) nurses, and data analysis was performed based on the method thematic analysis. We believe that the SAH has visible aspects, however, the invisible predominate when considering the perception and attitude of each professional despite the risks they may face the face of this potential possibility of becoming hypertensive. The invisibility of things becomes visible when we allow ourselves to go beyond appearance, and plunged in the meanings that permeate our existence, as part of this dynamic world we build from our perceptions and meanings attributed to it. The invisibility of hypertension is evident from the meaning that gives the same hypertensive, hence changing the attitudes and lifestyles, the health professional should seek to understand and realize this invisibility when implementing care within the primary, secondary and tertiary health actions.

Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Hypertension Among Bank Employees: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia

Background and Objectives: Hypertension (HTN) is one of the most common non-communicable medical conditions and the leading preventable risk factor for early mortality worldwide. As a result of their exposure to sedentary work and job strain, bank employees comprise an occupational group at risk for HTN. Due to the lack of previous research addressing this issue in Saudi Arabia, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of HTN and its associated factors among bankers in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 342 bank employees. A self-administered questionnaire in the workplace was used to collect data on the sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors of participants, including smoking, physical activity, family history of HTN, and diabetes mellitus. Each participant’s blood pressure, height, and weight were measured. Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale was used to assess stress levels. Results: The prevalence of HTN in the participants was 28.9%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that being a smoker (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–3.25), diabetic (aOR = 5.14, 95% CI: 1.60–16.54), or obese (aOR = 5.49, 95% CI: 2.75–10.96); having a positive family history of HTN (aOR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.36–4.51); and having a very high stress score (≥21; aOR = 3.24, 95% CI: 1.04–10.11) were associated with an increased risk of HTN, while walking for 10 min continuously ≥7 times/week (aOR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.12–0.64) was associated with a decreased risk of HTN. Conclusions: The findings revealed that almost one out of three bank employees had HTN. Periodic screening for early detection of HTN, as well as implementing health education and lifestyle modification programs, is recommended.

IMPLEMENTATION OF K-MEDOIDS AND K-PROTOTYPES CLUSTERING FOR EARLY DETECTION OF HYPERTENSION DISEASE

Hypertension is a serious concern because of its significant impact on public health, especially in the context of lifestyle changes and specific health conditions. One method for grouping patients based on complex clinical data is the Clustering method. This research type is quantitative, namely taking or collecting the necessary data and then analyzing it using the K-Medoids and K-Prototypes methods. The K-Medoids method is more resistant to outliers and noise than the K-Means method, which is more suitable for this research. The K-Prototypes method can handle mixed numerical and categorical data, effectively grouping hypertensive patients based on different variable categories. This research used the K-Medoids and K-Prototypes grouping methods to categorize patients into risk categories based on gender, age, family history of hypertension, smoking status, pulse rate, and increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The Elbow and Silhouette Coefficient methods were applied to evaluate the data and determine the optimal number of clusters for dividing patients into low-risk and high-risk hypertension groups. The analysis revealed that two clusters are the optimal solution. The clustering results show K-Medoids' superiority in grouping data with higher Silhouette Coefficient values ​​compared to K-Prototypes. Overall, the K-Medoids and K-Prototypes algorithms can detect early hypertension risk by dividing patients into different risk groups. Although the clustering results are still weak, these two methods show potential in helping health institutions identify and treat hypertension risk in Indonesia.

The Correlation between Caffeine Intake and the Risk of Hypertension

The Correlation between Caffeine Intake and the Risk of Hypertension

Some thoughts about the "Consensus statement on smoking and vascular risk" from the Spanish Autonomous Societies of Hypertension and Vascular Risk.

Smoking is a known preventable risk factor for vascular diseases. However, it is one of the most forgotten risks when we talk about its relationship with kidney disease. Following the publication of the "Consensus statement on smoking and vascular risk" promoted by the autonomous societies of hypertension and vascular risk of Spain, we consider that the nephrology community should be alerted about the deleterious effects of exposure to tobacco smoke and its consequences on renal damage. Something to take into account given the prevalence of smoking in our environment, approaching its prevention and treatment.

Obese Hypertensive Men Have Fasting Serum Concentrations of Leptin Similar to Those of Obese Normotensive Men.

Leptin is a hormone which is secreted by the adipocytes. In the circulation, leptin levels are directly proportional to the body fat percentage. Studies have shown that higher leptin levels are associated with an increased risk of hypertension after adjusting for body mass index (BMI). Therefore, leptin has been proposed as a mediator of obesity-related hypertension. Whether leptin is associated with hypertension when controlling for body fat percentage remains unclear. We studied 103 obese men (BMI ≥30.0kg/m2). All men were healthy and were medication-free. We measured blood pressure using 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) recordings. Hypertension was defined as 24-hour systolic ABP ≥130mm Hg and/or 24-hour diastolic ABP ≥80mm Hg, and normotension was defined as 24-hour ABP <130/80mm Hg. We measured fasting serum leptin concentrations and used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning to determine body fat percentage. Of the 103 obese men, 64 were hypertensive (24-hour systolic ABP (mean ± standard deviation) 137±11mg Hg and 24-hour diastolic ABP 83±6mm Hg) and 40 were normotensive (24-hour systolic ABP 117±6mg Hg and 24-hour diastolic ABP 73±4mm Hg). The 2 groups had similar fasting serum leptin concentrations (median (interquartile range)) 13.4 (5.7-36.1) µg/L versus 13.4 (5.4-27.1) µg/L, P=0.88) and total fat mass percentage (34.8±4.5% versus 34.0±4.7%, P=0.90). Obese hypertensive men have serum leptin concentrations similar to those of obese normotensive men with comparable body fat percentage measurements. This finding does not support leptin's candidacy as a mediator of obesity-related hypertension.

Association between the screen time spent watching short videos at bedtime and essential hypertension in young and middle-aged people: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundWatching short videos is an integral part of the daily lives of young and middle-aged people. Nevertheless, the correlation between the screen time spent watching short videos at bedtime and essential hypertension in young and middle-aged people remains unclear. We aimed to explore the correlation between the screen time spent watching short videos at bedtime and essential hypertension among young and middle-aged people and construct a nomogram prediction model for assessing the probability of developing essential hypertension for these age groups.MethodsThis study included 4318 young and middle-aged people who underwent medical examinations at Hengshui People’s Hospital between January 2023 and September 2023. The collected data, including self-reported screen time spent watching short videos at bedtime and general information, were partitioned into a training set and a test set, with the former being divided into hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups. R programming language was used for statistical analysis and processing.ResultsThe results of multifactorial logistic analysis showed that screen time of 0< time ≤ 1 h (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.022–6.082, P<0.05), 2< time ≤ 3 h (95% CI: 1.538–4.665, P<0.05), 3< time ≤ 4 h (95% CI: 5.327–16.691, P<0.05), and time>4 h (95% CI: 21.382–78.15, P<0.05) were independently associated with essential hypertension among young and middle-aged people. Sex, age, screen time, occupation, high-sodium diet, physical activity, sleep, overweight or obesity, diabetes or glucose tolerance abnormality, dyslipidaemia, hyperuricaemia, and family history of hypertension were screened to construct a nomogram prediction model. The model had an area under the curve of the participant’s work characteristics of 0.934 (95% CI: 0.925–0.943), along with a preferably fitted calibration curve. After model validation using the test dataset, the area under the working characteristic curve for participants was 0.911 (95% CI: 0.895–0.928), and it was a well-fitted calibration plot.ConclusionsThe screen time spent watching short videos at bedtime was significantly associated with essential hypertension in young and middle-aged people, and the nomogram was a good predictor of the risk of essential hypertension among young and middle-aged people.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Hypertension Among Middle-Aged and Older Tribal Adults-Evidence from Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI).

Hypertension is a global health concern, particularly among middle-aged and older adults. This study aims to fill this gap by examining hypertension prevalence and risk factors using data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI). This study used data from the LASI, which is a nationally representative Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), wave-1 (2017-2018). Our study included a sample of 12,920 individuals from tribal communities who were aged 45 and above. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the factors associated with hypertension in middle-aged and elderly tribal adults using STATA software. The study revealed that the prevalence of hypertension among middle-aged and older tribal adults was 34.35%, with 31.97% among males and 36.29% among females. The prevalence of hypertension among middle-aged tribal adults was observed to be 28.67%, while among older tribal adults, it was found to be 46.13%. Age is a prominent factor, showing a marked increase in hypertension risk with advancing age. Individuals aged 51-55 have a cOR of 1.35 (1.03-1.75) and an aOR of 1.37 (1.01-1.86). Gender analysis reveals that females exhibit a higher crude risk with a cOR of 1.21 (1.02-1.42). Hypertension is associated to factors such as increasing age, BMI, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and diabetes. Sociodemographic factors like education and socioeconomic status also contribute to the prevalence of hypertension. Targeted public health interventions, including lifestyle modifications, early diagnosis, and management, particularly in tribal communities, can significantly reduce hypertension prevalence and impact. Culturally tailored health promotion programs could further address these risk factors.

Risk for Ocular Hypertension With Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implants in Black and White Patients With Diabetic Macular Edema.

Purpose: To compare the effects of intravitreal (IVT) 0.7 mg dexamethasone implants on the intraocular pressure (IOP) in Black patients and White patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed of Black patients and White patients with DME who received dexamethasone implants with 12 or more months of follow-up. Results: The study included 145 eyes (69 Black; 76 White) with a mean (±SD) of 3.6 ± 3.9 dexamethasone implants and 58 ± 31 months of follow-up. Black patients had higher baseline rates of glaucoma (23% vs 8%; P = .010) but similar rates of ocular hypertension after receiving IVT dexamethasone (20% vs 16%; P = .52). By the last follow-up visit, the mean central subfield thickness had decreased from 387 ± 129 µm to 314 ± 104 µm (P < .001). Conclusions: IVT dexamethasone implants decreased macular thicknesses in patients with DME; however, there was no difference in the rate of ocular hypertension after IVT dexamethasone between Black patients and White patients.

ASH2L-Mediated H3K4 Methylation and Nephrogenesis.

Many congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract involve deficits in the number of nephrons, which are associated with a higher risk of hypertension and chronic kidney disease later in life. Prior work has implicated histone modifications in regulating kidney lineage-specific gene transcription and nephron endowment. Our earlier study suggested that ASH2L, a core subunit of the H3K4 methyltransferase complex, plays a role in ureteric bud morphogenesis during mammalian kidney development. However, the potential involvement of ASH2L in nephron formation remains an open question. To investigate the role of ASH2L in nephron development, we inactivated Ash2l specifically in nephron progenitor cells by crossing Six2-e(Kozak-GFPCre-Wpre-polyA)1 mice with Ash2lfl/fl mice. We utilized RNA sequencing combined with Cleavage Under Targets and Tagmentation sequencing to screen for gene and epigenomic changes, which were further verified by rescue experiments conducted on ex vivo culture explants. Inactivating ASH2L in nephron progenitor cells disrupted H3K4 trimethylation establishment at promoters of genes controlling nephron progenitor cell stemness, differentiation and cell cycle, inhibiting their progression through the cell cycle and differentiation into epithelial cell types needed to form nephrons. Inhibition of the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway partially rescued the dysplastic phenotype of the mutants. ASH2L-mediated H3K4 methylation was identified as a novel epigenetic regulator of kidney development. Downregulation of ASH2L expression or H3K4 trimethylation may be linked to congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract.

Metabolic Status and Hypertension: The Impact of Insulin Resistance-Related Indices on Blood Pressure Regulation and Hypertension Risk

Background Diabetes is closely related to hypertension, and insulin resistance-related indices are novel metrics used to evaluate the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to explore the relationships between the TyG index, METS-IR, TG/HDL-C, and HOMA-IR with hypertension. Methods Data from the NHANES spanning ten consecutive survey cycles from 1998 to 2018 were utilized, focusing on adults with complete blood pressure data and comprehensive information for calculating the TyG index, METS-IR, TG/HDL-C, and HOMA-IR. A multivariable logistic regression model was employed to examine the relationship between insulin resistance indices and hypertension as well as blood pressure levels, while subgroup analyses were conducted to explore potential influencing factors. RCS curves were used to describe both linear and non-linear relationships. Results This NHANES-based study included 16,062 adults. Regardless of the adjustment for covariates, significant associations were found between the TyG index, METS-IR, TG/HDL-C, HOMA-IR and hypertension risk. The ROC curve demonstrated the stability of the TyG index, METS-IR, TG/HDL-C, and HOMA-IR in predicting hypertension risk. The RCS curves uncovered a linear relationship between the TyG index, METS-IR, and hypertension, whereas TG/HDL-C and HOMA-IR exhibited a non-linear association with hypertension. Subgroup analyses indicated that smoking and diabetes may influence the relationship between insulin resistance-related indices and hypertension. Conclusion Elevated levels of the insulin resistance indices TyG index, METS-IR, TG/HDL-C, and HOMA-IR are closely associated with hypertension risk. These indices can serve as effective markers for monitoring hypertension risk in clinical practice. However, larger-scale prospective cohort studies are needed to validate these findings and further explore the clinical application potential of the TyG index, METS-IR, TG/HDL-C, and HOMA-IR as tools for cardiovascular risk assessment. Such studies will help elucidate the specific causal relationships between these insulin resistance-related indices and hypertension and advance their practical application in clinical settings.

EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES, SLEEP QUALITY, AND HYPERTENSION AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING ELDERLY

Objective: to examine the relationship between psychological changes and sleep quality with the incidence of hypertension in the elderly.Method: This cross-sectional study, conducted with a purposive sample of 126 elderly participants, assessed psychological changes using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-42) questionnaire and sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. Blood pressure was measured using a sphygmomanometer to assess hypertension. Data analysis included independent t-tests and chi-square tests, with logistic regression used to identify predictors of hypertension. Results: The independent t-test revealed significant differences in stress levels between participants with and without hypertension (t = -6.614, p = 0.020). Similarly, significant differences in depression levels were observed between these two groups (t = -0.044, p = 0.014). Elderly individuals with poor sleep quality had a 5 times higher risk of experiencing hypertension (OR = 4.625, p = 0.008). Multivariate analysis indicated that age was a predictor of hypertension incidence (β = 0.208, p = 0.004), and sleep quality was also a predictor (β = -1.501, p = 0.023). Discussion: The findings suggest that psychological factors and sleep quality influence hypertension development in the elderly, likely through physiological mechanisms such as heightened sympathetic activity and vascular stress. These results highlight the importance of addressing both psychological health and sleep quality in managing hypertension risk. Conclusion: Sleep quality is a predictor of hypertension incidence in the elderly. Those with poor sleep quality have a 5 times greater risk of developing hypertension compared to those with good sleep quality. Keywords: elderly, hypertension, psychological changes, sleep quality

Re-thinking the link between exposure to mercury and blood pressure.

Hypertension or high blood pressure (BP)is a prevalent and manageable chronic condition which is a significant contributor to the total global disease burden. Environmental chemicals, including mercury (Hg), may contribute to hypertension onset and development. Hg is a global health concern, listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a top ten chemical of public health concern. Most people are exposed to some level of Hg, with vulnerable groups, including Indigenous peoples and small-scale gold miners, at a higher risk for exposure. We published a systematic review and meta-analysis in 2018 showing a dose-response relationship between Hg exposure and hypertension. This critical review summarizes the biological effects of Hg (both organic and inorganic form) on the underlying mechanisms that may facilitate the onset and development of hypertension and related health outcomes and updates the association between Hg exposure (total Hg concentrations in hair) and BP outcomes. We also evaluated the weight of evidence using the Bradford Hill criteria. There is a strong dose-response relationship between Hg (both organic and inorganic) exposure and BP in animal studies and convincing evidence that Hg contributes to hypertension by causing structural and functional changes, vascular reactivity, vasoconstriction, atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, and thrombosis. The underlying mechanisms are vast and include impairments in antioxidant defense mechanisms, increased ROS production, endothelial dysfunction, and alteration of the renin-angiotensin system. We found additional 16 recent epidemiological studies that have reported the relationship between Hg exposure and hypertension in the last 5years. Strong evidence from epidemiological studies shows a positive association between Hg exposure and the risk of hypertension and elevated BP. The association is mixed at lower exposure levels but suggests that Hg can affect BP even at low doses when co-exposed with other metals. Further research is needed to develop robust conversion factors among different biomarkers and standardized measures of Hg exposure. Regulatory agencies should consider adopting a 2µg/g hair Hg level as a cut-off for public health regulation, especially for adults older than child-bearing age.

Association between the triglyceride-glucose index and its combined obesity indicators and the risk of hypertension in middle-aged and older Chinese adults: A nationwide cross-sectional study

Association between the triglyceride-glucose index and its combined obesity indicators and the risk of hypertension in middle-aged and older Chinese adults: A nationwide cross-sectional study

Effect of different drying approaches on saltiness perception of partially substituted salt

Excessive dietary intake of sodium leads to an increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases and novel strategies to reduce sodium consumption are need of the hour. In this study, the salts KCl and MgCl2.6H2O were used to replace NaCl in varying concentrations and the modified salts were produced using three drying techniques: spray drying, modified (ultrasonic nebulizer-assisted) spray drying, and electrospray drying. In all drying techniques, the size-reduced cubic-shaped modified salt particles were produced in the submicron range with improved crystallinity. The dried salt with 50%w/w NaCl, 45%w/w KCl, and 5%w/w MgCl2.6H2O possessed uniform morphology with minimum levels of agglomeration. The modified spray-dried particles possessed a faster dissolution (8 s). The dried salt particles exhibited higher hygroscopicity and a rapid dissolution than the control due to the reduced particle size. The modified spray-dried salts resulted in 86% sodium reduction without any off-taste development, as confirmed by the sensory analysis.

Association Between Triglyceride Glucose Index and Hypertension According to Different Diagnostic Criteria.

To explore the association between triglyceride glucose index (TyG) and hypertension under different diagnostic thresholds. This study analyzed data from routine occupational health examinations conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University in 2019. TyG and TyG-BMI, indicators of insulin resistance (IR), were calculated using triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose (FPG), and body mass index (BMI). Hypertension was defined by thresholds of 140/90mmHg and 130/80mmHg. Logistic regression models were employed to investigate the association between TyG and hypertension. Among 4028 subjects, after adjusting for covariates, the risk of hypertension (diagnosed by 140/90mmHg) was 2.87 times higher (OR=2.87, 95% CI: 2.11-3.91) in the Q4 group of TyG compared to the Q1 group. Similarly, the risk was 8.03 times higher (OR=8.03, 95% CI: 5.05-12.75) in the Q4 group of TyG-BMI than in the Q1 group. Furthermore, the risk of hypertension (diagnosed by 130/80mmHg) was 2.93 times higher (OR=2.93, 95% CI: 2.34-3.68) in the Q4 group of TyG compared to the Q1 group, and 7.12 times higher (OR=7.12, 95% CI: 5.08-9.99) in the Q4 group of TyG-BMI than in the Q1 group. The restricted cubic spline further showed a dose-response relationship between TyG/ TyG-BMI and hypertension. In the population with a BMI of 24.0-27.9 kg/m2, the risk of developing hypertension (diagnosed by 140/90mmHg) in the Q4 group of TyG was 2.79 times higher (OR=2.79, 95% CI: 1.67-4.66), while the Q4 group with TyG had a 3.07 times greater risk of hypertension (diagnosed by 130/80mmHg) than the Q1 group (OR=3.07, 95% CI: 2.05-4.60). TyG is an independent risk factor for hypertension across different thresholds, showing a clear dose-response relationship. BMI may influence this association, emphasizing the importance of managing insulin resistance early to aid hypertension prevention.

Association between the sEH rs751141 polymorphism and the risk of ischemic stroke and hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

To systematically evaluate the association between the rs751141 polymorphism in soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) and the risk of ischemic stroke and hypertension. We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and Chongqing VIP for eligible studies published through March 2024. Studies were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools. Data extraction and meta-analysis were performed using STATA software version 12. Twelve case-control studies were included, seven investigating the association of sEH rs751141 polymorphism with ischemic stroke risk, and five examining its association with hypertension risk. The pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals for the allelic, dominant, and recessive models of ischemic stroke risk were 1.167 (1.045-1.303, p = 0.006), 1.381 (1.104-1.883, p = 0.041), and 0.856 (0.753-0.9751, p = 0.019), respectively. For hypertension risk, the pooled OR values and 95% confidence intervals were 1.343 (1.229-1.467, p < 0.001), 1.537 (1.254-1.885, p < 0.001), and 0.715 (0.64-0.80, p < 0.001), respectively. Carriers of the G allele of the sEH rs751141 polymorphism are at an increased risk for ischemic stroke and hypertension, while the A allele appears to have a protective effect against these conditions.

Risk of hypertension in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with teriflunomide compared to dimethyl fumarate: A nationwide cohort study in Denmark

Background: Teriflunomide has been associated with an increased risk of hypertension. Real-world studies including adequate control groups are lacking. We hypothesized that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with teriflunomide would be at higher risk of developing hypertension than those treated with dimethyl fumarate. Methods: We conducted a cohort study linking the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry with national health registries during a 10-year period. Teriflunomide (N = 2656) and dimethyl fumarate (N = 2237) exposure was defined by the first treatment record lasting ⩾ 3 months, at which time follow-up started. We included 4893 adult patients without hypertension at baseline. Hypertension was defined as an International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision code for hypertension and by dispensed prescription drugs identified by the respective Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical codes. We used multivariable-adjusted Cox regression. Results: We found 40.6 (teriflunomide) and 13.1 (dimethyl fumarate) hypertension events per 1000 person-years. Compared to dimethyl fumarate-treated patients, patients treated with teriflunomide had a higher risk of developing hypertension (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.80; 95% confidence interval = 2.19–3.56). The number needed to harm was 16 and 9 at 3 and 5 years of follow-up, respectively. Conclusion: We found an increased risk of hypertension in adult patients with MS treated with teriflunomide.

Application of machine learning algorithms in predicting new onset hypertension: a study based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey.

Hypertension is a serious chronic disease that can significantly lead to various cardiovascular diseases, affecting vital organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys. Our goal is to predict the risk of new onset hypertension using machine learning algorithms and identify the characteristics of patients with new onset hypertension. We analyzed data from the 2011 China Health and Nutrition Survey cohort of individuals who were not hypertensive at baseline and had follow-up results available for prediction by 2015. We tested and evaluated the performance of four traditional machine learning algorithms commonly used in epidemiological studies: Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, XGBoost, LightGBM, and two deep learning algorithms: TabNet and AMFormer model. We modeled using 16 and 29 features, respectively. SHAP values were applied to select key features associated with new onset hypertension. A total of 4,982 participants were included in the analysis, of whom 1,017 developed hypertension during the 4-year follow-up. Among the 16-feature models, Logistic Regression had the highest AUC of 0.784(0.775∼0.806). In the 29-feature prediction models, AMFormer performed the best with an AUC of 0.802(0.795∼0.820), and also scored the highest in MCC (0.417, 95%CI: 0.400∼0.434) and F1 (0.503, 95%CI: 0.484∼0.505) metrics, demonstrating superior overall performance compared to the other models. Additionally, key features selected based on the AMFormer, such as age, province, waist circumference, urban or rural location, education level, employment status, weight, WHR, and BMI, played significant roles. We used the AMFormer model for the first time in predicting new onset hypertension and achieved the best results among the six algorithms tested. Key features associated with new onset hypertension can be determined through this algorithm. The practice of machine learning algorithms can further enhance the predictive efficacy of diseases and identify risk factors for diseases.

Association between normal weight obesity and comorbidities and events of cardiovascular diseases among adults in South China.

The increased risks for cardiovascular comorbidities and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in populations with normal weight obesity (NWO) have not been well-identified. We aimed to study their associations in an adult population in South China. Based on the CVD prevalence of 4% in Shenzhen and a calculated sample size of 6,000, a cross-sectional study with a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method was conducted in Shenzhen City. The cardiovascular comorbidities being studied were abdominal obesity (AO), diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and chronic kidney disease, while the CVD events were occurrences of myocardial infarction and strokes. Questionnaire surveys, physical examinations, and laboratory tests were performed. NWO was defined as a condition with the highest tertile of body fat percentage (BF%) among the normal body mass index (BMI) range (18.5-23.9 kg/m2). Continuous data were reported as mean [standard deviation (SD)] and categorical data as percentages (%). CVD comorbidities and CVD events and their detection rates in different groups were compared using ANONA analysis and Chi-squared test. Spearman's correlation coefficients between BF% and cardiometabolic abnormalities were calculated by partial correlation analysis. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for BF%, CVD comorbidities, and CVD events, adjusted for multiple confounders. Among the total 6,240 subjects who completed the study and had BMI and BF% data available, 3,086 had normal BMI. The prevalence of NWO was 16.36%, with 13.15% for men and 19.54% for women. With confounders adjusted, the risks of AO (OR = 6.05, 95%CI = 3.40-10.75), essential hypertension (OR = 1.56, 95%CI = 1.09-2.22), dyslipidemia (OR = 1.85, 95%CI = 1.49-2.29), and metabolic syndrome (OR = 4.61, 95%CI = 2.32-9.18) were significantly increased in the populations with NWO compared with the population without NWO (P < 0.05). BF% was not significantly associated with the risk of CVD events in the total (OR = 1.56, 95%CI = 0.83-2.93), male (OR = 1.00, 95%CI = 0.44-2.30), and female populations (OR = 2.53, 95%CI = 0.91-7.06). NWO was found to be positively associated with CVD comorbidities but not with CVD events. The current study provides a ground to conduct further studies on whether body fat affects the risk of occurrence of CVD events and the underlying mechanisms in the future.