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Abstract
To determine the comparison and relationship of anthropometric indices with blood pressure and arterial stiffness index (ASI) in normotensive, prehypertensive and hypertensive male adults.
Methods: In this randomized case control study ninety male subjects between 35-55 years of age were selected with each group comprising of thirty normotensive, pre-hypertensive and hypertensive subjects. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines their height, weight, hip (HC) and waist circumferences (WC) were measured. Waist hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), conicity index (CI) and waist stature ratio (WSR) were calculated. Blood pressure (BP) was measured by mercury sphygmomanometer with auscultatory method. Photoplethysmography was done by placing velcro scrap on volar surface of middle finger and digital volume pulse (DVP) was recorded with iWorx-214 physiological interface system and ASI was calculated. Statistically, difference amongst the three groups was determined by applying one way ANOVA. Difference between the groups was analyzed by Post Hoc Tukey’s test. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated to study the relationship. p-value<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: There was statistically significant difference in WC (0.003), WHR (0.0001) and ASI (0.0001) between the three groups but not BMI (0.223). Amongst the anthropometric measurements, WC and WHR were positively correlated to the systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Conclusions: Central obesity is better predictor of arterial stiffening and hypertension than BMI.