Background: High body mass index (BMI) is a well-recognized risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. But its role in peripheral artery disease (PAD) remains perplexing. Our study aims to evaluate the association of BMI with PAD in the Chinese hypertensive population.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with enrollment data from the Chinese H-type Hypertension Registry.10896 hypertensive patients aged ≥ 18 years were included in the final analysis.
Results: The prevalence of PAD diagnosed by ABI in this study was 3.2% (n=351). A U-shaped association between BMI and PAD was found. Per SD increment (3.6 kg/m²) on the left side of the BMI threshold (BMI < 25.7 kg/m²) was associated with a 27% decrease in the adjusted risk of PAD [OR, 0.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60, 0.89; P=0.002]; BMI was significantly positively associated with the risk of PAD (OR, 1.52; 95% CI 1.52, 1.93; P=0.001) in those with BMI ≥ 25.7 kg/m².
Conclusion: In summary, a U-shaped association between BMI and the risk of PAD in the Chinese hypertensive population was found. BMI with the lowest risk of PAD was estimated to be 25.7 kg/m².
Keywords: peripheral arterial disease, body mass index, hypertension