Age-related anthropometric remodelling resulting in increased and redistributed adiposity is associated with increases in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in Chinese subjects

Abstract

Background: Ageing promotes increases in the prevalence of components of he metabolic syndrome, which obesity often underlies. Methods: We report the relationship between ageing, obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors in 694 community-based Chinese subjects in gender-specific groups of three age ranges: 20.0-39.9 (young), 40.0-59.9 (middle-aged) and 60.0-79.9 (old-aged) years. Results: Body mass index (BMI) values were similar in males in each age group, but waist and percentage body fat increased (6.6, and 39.5%, both p < 0.001, respectively), from young to old-age groups, as did blood pressure and glycated haemoglobin levels (all p < 0.001). In the females, increases (all p < 0.001) in percentage body fat (29.3%) were accompanied by greater increases in BMI (10.3%) and waist (19.2%) than the males. Blood pressure, glycated haemoglobin, total and LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels increased linearly with age (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: Age-related increases in central adiposity and percentage body fat were associated with increasingly adverse cardiovascular risk factor profiles. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.