Examining the Association Between Diabetes and Hypertension Among Women 40 Years and Older Using the Framingham Study

Objectives: To investigate the association between diabetes and hypertension over 24 years using the Framingham Heart Study in women 40 or older. Methods: The study utilized a subset of data from the Framingham Study (initiated in 1948), a longitudinal prospective cohort study, which followed participants for 24 years. The exposure was diabetes, while hypertension was the outcome. Women aged 40 years or older who had no missing data on diabetes or hypertension were included (N=2,187). Logistic regression was used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Adjusted models controlled for body mass index, smoking, and total cholesterol. A secondary stratified analysis was conducted to evaluate effect modification by total cholesterol. Results: In the unadjusted model, women with diabetes had 2.72 times the odds of having hypertension compared with those without diabetes (95% CI: 1.16-6.35). In the adjusted model, diabetes was not statistically significantly associated with hypertension (adjusted OR 1.99, 95% CI: 0.82-4.81). Conclusion: The results support the development of public policy and programs involving diabetes and cardiovascular disease and can guide future research.