Abstract
BACKGROUND: As a population ages, blood pressure levels gradually increase, leading to a higher incidence of hypertension and increased cardiovascular diseases risk. This study examines factors affecting hypertension grading among centenarians in the Hainan Province. METHODS: Data from 2014 to 2016 were accessed from the cross-sectional database "Hypertension Levels and Epidemiological Characteristics of the Elderly and Centenarians in Hainan province of China". This study included 690 centenarians with hypertension. Hypertension grading was the dependent variable, analyzed against independent variables including demographic information (sex, age, ethnicity, education level, marital status, cohabitation, and regional distribution), lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity), body mass index (BMI), and comorbid conditions (diabetes and hyperlipidemia). Logistic regression models, adjusted for these factors, were used to assess the determinants of hypertension grading among the participants. RESULTS: Multivariate regression analysis, after adjusting for other variables, revealed significant associations between BMI, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, and hypertension grades. Individuals with BMI below 18.5 kg/m2 had a 0.614-fold lower risk of developing grade III hypertension (odds ratio [OR]: 0.614, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.390-0.966, p = 0.0350) and a 0.586-fold lower risk for grade II hypertension (OR: 0.586, 95% CI: 0.402-0.852, p = 0.0052). Furthermore, individuals with elevated LDL levels had a 6.087-fold greater risk of progressing from grade I to grade III hypertension (OR: 6.087, 95% CI: 1.635-22.660, p = 0.0071) and a 4.356-fold greater risk of progressing from grade II to grade III hypertension (OR: 4.356, 95% CI: 1.052-18.033, p = 0.0423). Additionally, individuals of Li ethnicity had 1.823-fold greater risk of progressing from grade I to grade II hypertension compared to those of Han ethnicity (OR: 1.823, 95% CI: 1.033-3.218, p = 0.0383). CONCLUSIONS: A BMI below 18.5 kg/m2 , elevated LDL, and ethnicity emerged the primary factors associated with hypertension grading in centenarians. To reduce the risk of hypertension, it is crucial for centenarians to maintain a healthy weight, normal LDL levels, and adopt dietary habits including a low-cholesterol and low-fat diet.