Hypoadiponectinaemia predic ts the devel opment ofhypertension in Chinese people

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension is a common cardiovascular risk factorwhich contributes to the increased cardiovascular risk in diabetes.Hypoadiponectinaemia has been found in type 2 diabetes, hypertensionand coronary artery disease. A recent study suggests that replenishmentof adiponectin can ameliorate obesity-related hypertension in mice [1].The aim of this study is to assess whether adiponectin also plays a role inhypertension development in humans.Subjects and Methods: A nested case–control study was performed.Normotensive subjects (BP < 130/85 mmHg) were recruited from theHong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factors Prevalence Study and followed-up prospectively for 5 years. At the year 5 follow-up, 75 recruitedsubjects (cases) had developed hypertension (BP ‡ 130/85 mmHg or onregular anti-hypertensive treatment). Controls consisted of age and sex-matched subjects (n = 150, matched to cases at a ratio of 2:1) whoremained normotensive at 5 years. Blood pressure was measured as themean of two readings taken after sitting for at least 10 min. Adiponectinlevel was measured with an in-house ELISA assay.Results: Hypertensive subjects had more adverse risk factors, includinghigher BMI, waist circumference, waist hip ratio and mean arterialpressure (MAP) at baseline, compared to controls (all P < 0.001). Baseline adiponectin levels were significantly lower in hypertensivesubjects (1.75 ± 0.48 lg/ml vs. 1.93 ± 0.38 lg/ml, hypertensive vs.control, P = 0.003). Logistic regression analysis showed that baselinesex-adjusted adiponectin level (OR 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13–0.82, P = 0.018)was an independent negative predictor of hypertension development at5 years, in a model that included age, BMI, family history of hypertensionand baseline MAP, which were all independent positive predictors ofhypertension.Conclusion: In this Chinese population, hypoadiponectinaemia was anindependent predictor of hypertension development during a 5-yearfollow up.