The effect of obesity, abdominal obesity and joint effect of them on high blood pressure in men of Mazandaran Province, Iran (population attributable fraction study): brief report

Hypertension is one of the most important chronic illness worldwide and one the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Obesity and abdominal obesity are risk factors for high blood pressure. Population attributable fraction (PAF) answers the question of how much of the disease burden in a certain population may be reduced if a risk factor like obesity is removed from the population. It implies that reducing prevalence of obesity as a risk factor of hypertension, may reduce the burden of hypertension and its consequences. The aim of this study was to determine the population attributable fraction of hypertension associated with obesity, abdominal obesity and joint effect of them in the men of Mazandaran Province, North of Iran.
In this epidemiological study, the data of non-communicable disease surveillance system in 2009 has been achieved. Then measure of association between obesity and hypertension (Odds Ratio) was extracted from Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS). After standardizing the data, the population attributable risk for men based on the above formula (Levin's attributable fraction formula) has been calculated.
In our study based on population attributable fraction, results in blood pressure caused by obesity were 14.5 (CI 95%: 10.7-17.2), the effect of abdominal obesity was 7.4 (CI 95%: 2.04-11.3) and deductions attributable joint effect both obesity and abdominal obesity was 22.6 (CI 95%: 9.7-25.6) respectively.
Given the high prevalence of hypertension and obesity in Mazandaran men and the impact of obesity on blood pressure is necessary to prevent the spread of the disease. It is recommended that health promotion programs focus on men with high blood pressure due to obesity could be performed.