18 Dec Obesity Linked To Blood Pressure Day-to-Day Variability

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Mohammed Elfaramawi , MD PhD MPH MSc
Assistant Professor
Epidemiology Department
College of Public Health
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little rock, AR 72205

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Dr. Elfaramawi: A substantial increase in prevalence of obesity has been documented globally. In the USA, overweight and obesity are the second leading cause of preventable death in the USA, affecting ∼97 million adults. Evidence has accumulated showing that visit-to-visit blood pressure variability is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. This study is one of few studies which explored the relationship between obesity and visit-to-visit blood pressure variability.

Medical Research: What are the main findings?

Dr. Elfaramawi: Total and central obesity indicators, namely Body Mass Index (BMI) and Wait Circumference (WC) , were associated with higher variability of systolic blood pressure across study visits. However, the same indicators did not show any significant   association with visit-to-visit diastolic blood pressure variability.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Elfaramawi: This study has public health and clinical implication. Hypertension and visit-to-visit blood pressure variability are common in clinical settings. Visit-to-visit blood pressure variability is a strong predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Thus, stabilization of blood pressure fluctuation between clinic visits in obese individuals may be warranted. This could be achieved by reducing patients’ body weights, regular exercise, eating healthy food, adequate dosing and titration of antihypertensive treatment and by improving patient adherence to prescribed drugs.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Elfaramawi: Additional research is required to replicate the reported results in prospective studies, posit mechanisms involved in this observed association and evaluate approaches to reduce systolic blood pressure variability observed in clinical settings among obese persons to reduce its subsequent complications.

Citation:

Faramawi MF, Fischbach L,Delongchamp R, Cardenas VM, Abouelenein S, Taha N. Obesity is associated with visit-to-visit systolic blood pressure variability in the US adults. Journal of Public Health (Oxf) (accepted).

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Last Updated on December 18, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD