Anthropometric indexes for predicting high blood pressure in Turkish adults

Abstract

Purpose: It is controversial which anthropometric indexes are the best in predicting the risk of hypertension and how anthropometric measurements are related to blood pressure (BP). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between BP and anthropometric indexes and to determine the best predictors for hypertension risk. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 415 consecutive participants (161 men, mean age: 33.4 years) aged 18-88 years in Istanbul, Turkey. Weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and neck circumference (NC) and BP were measured by well-trained personnel. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Pearson correlation, linear regression, and multivariate analyses were used to assess the relationship between anthropometric measurements and SBP, DBP, using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23.0. Results: The systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were related to weight, WC, NC, BMI, and WHtR (P < 0.05). Linear regression analyses showed BMI and WC as independent risk factors for SBP with an increase by 1.11 mmHg in men (P = 0.036) and 1.59 mmHg in women (P = 0.001) in SBP when BMI increased 1 unit, while SBP increases by 0.2 mmHg when WC increases by 1 unit regardless of gender (P = 0.013). Conclusion: Our results showed that BMI and WC are related to BP and important predictors of hypertension risk. Therefore, the uses of BMI and WC are recommended as screening tools for the prediction of hypertension risk among Turkish adults.