Citation
Tuan, Nguyen T.; Adair, Linda S.; He, Ka; & Popkin, Barry M. (2008). Optimal Cutoff Values for Overweight: Using Body Mass Index to Predict Incidence of Hypertension in 18- to 65-Year-Old Chinese Adults. Journal of Nutrition, 138(7), 1377-1382. PMCID: PMC2587351Abstract
Studies aimed at identifying BMI cutoffs representing increased diseased risk for Asians are typically based on cross-sectional studies. This study determines an optimal BMI cutoff for overweight that represents elevated incidence of hypertension in Chinese adults with data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey 2000-2004 prospective cohort. Cumulative incidence was calculated by dividing new cases of hypertension over the study period by the total at-risk population, aged 18-65 y, in 2000. Sex-specific receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess the sensitivity and specificity of BMI as a predictor of hypertension incidence. Four-year cumulative incidences of hypertension (13% for women and 19% for men) were related (P < 0.005) to the increase in BMI. The crude area under the curves (AUC) were 0.62 (95% CI: 0.59-0.65) and 0.62 (95% CI: 0.58-0.65) for men and women, respectively; the age-adjusted AUC were 0.68 (95% CI: 0.65-0.70) and 0.71 (95% CI: 0.68-0.74) for men and women, respectively. A BMI of 23.5 kg/m(2) for women and 22.5 kg/m(2) for men provided the highest sensitivity and specificity (60%). The finding was consistent in different age groups. A BMI level of 25 kg/m(2) provided lower sensitivities (36% for women and 29% for men) with higher specificities (80% for women and 85% for men). Our study supported the hypothesis that the BMI cutoff to define overweight should be lower in Chinese than that in Western populations.URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jn/138.7.1377Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2008Journal Title
Journal of NutritionAuthor(s)
Tuan, Nguyen T.Adair, Linda S.
He, Ka
Popkin, Barry M.