High-density lipoprotein cholesterol is positively associated with hypertension in apparently healthy Japanese men and women.

Among five components of metabolic syndrome, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is unique because it is not significantly associated with blood pressure. This study looks at cross-sectional relationships between HDL cholesterol and hypertension using medical check-up data from 1803 apparently healthy Japanese men aged 49.9 +/- 9.0 years, and 1150 Japanese women aged 49.5 +/- 9.0 years. Pearson's correlation coefficients between systolic blood pressure (SBP)/diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and HDL cholesterol were -0.01 (ns)/-0.01 (ns) in men and -0.04 (ns)/-0.01 (ns) in women. The standardised partial regression coefficient of HDL cholesterol for SBP/DBP (mmHg) controlling for age, body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglycerides, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were 0.15 (P < 0.0001)/0.15 (P < 0.0001) in men and 0.10 (P < 0.0001)/0.12 (P < 0.0001) in women. The odds ratio (OR; 95% confidence interval [CI]) of a 1 mg/dL increment of HDL cholesterol for hypertension controlling for age, BMI, FPG, triglycerides, hs-CRP, LDL cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, exercise status, drinking status, and smoking status was 1.03 (1.02-1.04; P < 0.001) in men and 1.03 (1.01-1.05; P = 0.002) in women. Thus, HDL cholesterol was independently positively associated with hypertension in apparently healthy Japanese men and women.