1. Association between beta-blocker use and obesity in Hong Kong Chinese elders: a post-hoc analysis.
- Author
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Leung KL, Fong W, Freedman B, Bajorek B, and Lee VWY
- Subjects
- Adrenergic beta-Antagonists therapeutic use, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Asian People, Atenolol therapeutic use, Blood Pressure drug effects, Body Mass Index, Female, Hong Kong epidemiology, Humans, Hypertension complications, Male, Metoprolol therapeutic use, Obesity etiology, Risk Factors, Adrenergic beta-Antagonists adverse effects, Atenolol adverse effects, Hypertension drug therapy, Obesity epidemiology, Weight Gain drug effects
- Abstract
Introduction: Studies of Caucasian populations have shown that beta-blockers may exacerbate weight gain, a risk factor for many chronic diseases. Still, beta-blockers are the most prescribed antihypertensives in the Chinese population in Hong Kong. We aimed to explore the association between beta-blocker use, hypertension, and weight status of this population., Methods: A post-hoc analysis regarding body mass index (BMI) and the use of beta-blockers was performed based on the medication profile of community-dwelling older adults. Participants' BMI, hypertension diagnosis, name, dose, frequency, route of administration of beta-blockers, and other drugs that may alter body weight were recorded., Results: Of 1053 Chinese individuals aged ≥65 years (mean age 76.9±7.2 years, 80% female) from 32 elderly centres in Hong Kong, 18% (185/1053) of them consumed beta-blockers. That group also had a significantly larger proportion of obese individuals (45.9% vs 32.1%, P=0.002). After adjusting for other weight-altering drugs, beta-blockers remained a significant predictor of overweight and obesity (P=0.001). As the hypertensive population had significantly higher BMI than the normotensive population (24.3±3.6 vs 22.9±3.5, P<0.001), a sub-analysis on those with hypertension diagnosis confirmed that only the hypertensive population taking atenolol had a significantly larger population of obese individuals (BMI ≥25) compared with those who took metoprolol (58.9% vs 38.5%, P=0.03) and those who did not take any beta-blockers (58.9% vs 38.4%, P=0.007)., Conclusions: Our findings taken together with other guideline reservations cast doubt on whether beta-blockers, particularly atenolol, should be the major drug prescribed to older adults with hypertension., Competing Interests: All authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest.
- Published
- 2020
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