Overweight duration interacts with added salt intake in increasing odds of hypertension among adult women in Cebu, Philippines

Being overweight (OW) and high salt intake are known to increase hypertension (HTN) risk. Less is known about the effect of OW duration on HTN risk and whether it interacts with salt intake. Using a sample of 2,003 Filipino women (ages 35–69 yrs) followed for 22 years (1983–2005), this study examined the independent and joint effects of duration of OW (BMI>=25 kg/m 2 ) and high added salt intake on HTN risk. We used data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey and identified 5 patterns of OW history and duration: OW >15 yrs (19%), OW 7–15 yrs (12%), OW <7 yrs (11%), history of OW but not currently OW (10%) and never OW (48%). Added salt intake was deemed high if above mean values. Adjusting for current BMI, age and other confounders, the odds of being hypertensive increases with longer duration of OW. Odds (95% CI) of HTN were highest among women with longest OW duration: 2.0 (1.2, 3.4) for OW >15 yrs, 1.5 (0.9, 2.4) for OW 7–15 yrs, and 1.1 (0.7, 1.7) for OW <7 yrs compared to never OW women. HTN odds among women with high added salt intake were 1.5 (1.1, 2.1) times that of women with low added salt intake. There is significant interaction between OW duration and added salt intake. The odds of HTN among women OW >15 yrs with high added salt intake were 4.4 (2.4, 8.1) times compared to never OW women with low added salt intake. To reduce HTN prevalence, efforts to prevent earlier weight gain and decrease added salt intake should be strengthened. Funding: NIH 5 R01 TW05596‐04 and 5 D43 TW00633‐06‐09