Editorial [Hot topic:Current Hypertension Reviews, Hot Topics “Obesity, Hypertension, and the Metabolic Syndrome” (Guest Editor: Kazuko Masuo)]

摘要

Obesity, hypertension, obesity-related hypertension, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes have increased dramatically in prevalence and now pose a significant burden on health and health budgets. Indeed, several large cohort longitudinal studies such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) have found that obesity, diabetes and hypertension have increased in the United States in the past decade, and have demonstrated very close associations between the prevalence of obesity and the incidence of hypertension and diabetes. In addition, obesity, hypertension and diabetes mellitus are stated as risk factors for cardiovascular events. For example, the Framingham Heart study demonstrated higher cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in diabetic subjects compared to nondiabetic patients. Furthermore, the National Heart Foundation Risk Factor Prevalence Survey in Australia showed that central obesity plus smoking could predict future coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease death.