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A recent large retrospective cohort study reveals that an increased neck circumference (NC) exceeding 40 cm is associated with a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs) in patients suffering from both hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), especially among obese individuals. Conducted in China on 3,082 hospitalized hypertensive patients monitored over a median of 7 years, the study found that those with NC > 40 cm had a 39% higher risk of developing new cardiac events compared to those with smaller neck girth.
The findings emphasize the role of NC as a simple, low-cost anthropometric measurement to estimate upper body subcutaneous fat, which closely correlates with cardiovascular risks and metabolic disorders like obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Importantly, subgroup analysis demonstrated this elevated risk particularly in patients with OSA, elderly patients (age ≥ 60), obese individuals (BMI ≥28 kg/m²), non-smokers, and those with impaired kidney function. These results suggest that neck circumference could be a practical screening tool not only for assessing OSA but also for predicting cardiovascular prognosis in this high-risk population.
While the study underlines the prognostic value of NC > 40 cm in hypertensive patients, especially in those with concurrent obesity and OSA, the authors note limitations such as the single-center design, lack of gender-specific cutoff analyses, and absence of follow-up on NC and BMI changes. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these findings in broader populations and to unravel the underlying mechanisms.
Disclaimer: This article summarizes research findings intended for educational purposes and not as medical advice. Patients should consult healthcare professionals for personal health assessment and management.
Hypertension Center of People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region et al., Am J Prev Cardiol, 2025
PMC Article PMC12266477, 2025
