Age and sex differences in the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and hypertension in the general Korean population.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have suggested that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is associated with hypertension. However, the effects of age and sex on the relation between serum 25(OH)D and hypertension has not been examined. The present study examined the relationship between serum 25(OH)D and hypertension by age and sex in the general Korean population, considering potential confounders for hypertension.

SUBJECTS/METHODS: We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study. Twenty thousand four hundred and forty adults aged 19 years or older, who participated in the 2009-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, were selected for the present study. Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure ⩾ 140 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure ⩾ 90 mm Hg or current use of antihypertensive medication.

RESULTS

We found that serum 25(OH)D levels are inversely associated with hypertension in young and middle-aged adults, but not in the elderly population. In young and middle-aged adults, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for hypertension tended to decrease according to the quartiles of serum 25(OH)D after adjustment for potential confounders, although it was only significant in women (OR=0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.58-0.91, P for trend=0.0349). There was no association between serum 25(OH)D concentration and hypertension in elderly subjects of either sex.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher serum 25(OH)D level was strongly associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension in young and middle-aged Korean women, but not in elderly adults.