Association between pre-hypertension and cancer in NHANES 2007-2008 study

Studies have demonstrated association between hypertension and different types of cancer. However, there is relatively less research on the relationship between pre-hypertension and cancer. This study focused on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2008 data and examined the relationship between pre-hypertension and cancer of any type (excluding skin cancer). Using complex sample weights on 5858 observations (2875 males, 2983 females), the unadjusted odds ratio (OR) between pre-hypertension and cancer was 1.81 (95% CI: 1.11 - 2.97). Therefore, people with cancer were 81% more likely to have pre-hypertension than those without cancer. In subpopulation analyses, the odds ratio between pre-hypertension and cancer was significant for whites (OR: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.04 - 3.17) but not for people from other races, significant for people with annual family income less than $25,000 (OR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.17 – 3.06) but not for people with higher income, and significant for people who had smoked 100 cigarettes or more in their lives (OR: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.11 – 4.23) but not for others. A weighted analysis of 2143 observations in multivariable logistic regression showed an adjusted odds ratio of 1.79 (95% CI: 1.02-3.16) between pre-hypertension and cancer. After controlling for gender, race, age, family income, education, body mass index, and smoking, people with cancer were 79% more likely to have pre-hypertension than those without cancer. Future research should conduct prospective cohort studies to provide stronger evidence for the relationship between pre-hypertension and the risk of different cancer types.