The ORs for prehypertension and hypertension in the upper quartiles of the VAI were 1.514 (1.074-2.133), P=0.018 and 1.660 (1.084-2.542), P=0.020, in males, after adjusting for age, education, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, physical activity, serum creatinine, fasting glucose, and plasma insulin. This evidence concerns the gene INS and hypertensive disorder.