Overweight and ethnic difference in prevalence of hyperglycemia and elevated blood pressure in a Chinese three-ethnic pediatric population

Objective: To evaluate the influence of overweight on the ethnic difference in elevated blood pressure and hyperglycemia in a three-ethnic Chinese pediatric population. Methods: A school-based survey was conducted in a random sample drawn by ethnicity, including 2142 Uygur (34.5%), 2078 Han (33.4%) and 1997 Kazak (32.1%) children and adolescents. Anthropometrics and blood pressure were measured by standard protocols and defined by the Chinese national cut-offs. Fasting glucose were measured among 2664 subjects, randomly selected from the study population by ethnicity. The ethnic difference in mean fasting glucose, blood pressure, and elevated status was analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed with or without adjusting weight status to evaluate the role of overweight on the ethnic difference in risk of EBP and hyperglycemia in the pediatric population. Results: Overweight was more prevalent in Kazak children than Han and Uygur children (40.8% vs 17.7% vs 7.1%), however Kazak boys and girls had significantly higher SBP and DBP levels than Han and Uygur counterparts (Ps<0.001), whereas, the lowest fasting glucose levels were also observed in Kazak boys and girls, Ps<0.001. Han children had the highest rate of elevated blood pressure followed by Kazak and Uygur children (30% vs 25% vs 8%). The ethnic difference in overweight did not affect the ethnic difference in the risk of hyperglycemia (OR=1.13, 95% CI 0.81–1.60 for overweight, and OR=0.51, 95% CI 0.36–0.72 for ethnicity), whereas the ethnic difference in the risk of elevated blood pressure disappeared when weight status was adjusted (OR=1.073, 95% CI 0.99–1.163 for ethnicity and OR=1.344, 95% CI 1.24–1.452 for overweight). Conclusions: The ethnic difference in risk of hypertension and type 2 diabetes among Uygur, Han and Kazak populations occurs in childhood. Overweight appears to have less effect on the ethnic difference in hyperglycemia compared with that on high blood pressure.