DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i12.043

Pages: 5000-5003

Adiposity has been found to be associated with increased risk of non-communicable diseases, especially hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, coronary arteriosclerosis, and overall mortality. The aim of this study was to determine correlations among various anthropometric parameters and blood pressure in North Indian females. A total number of 200 females aged between 25-60 years were included in the study. Their weight, height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were recorded. Body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR) and waist height ratio (WHtR) were calculated subsequently. The relationship between WC, BMI, WHR, WHtR and blood pressure was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis. WC, BMI, WHR and WHtR were independently associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. WHR was found to be more closely associated with systolic (p<0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (p<0.001) than BMI although WC, BMI and WHtR were also found to be closely related with increase in systolic as well as diastolic blood pressure. Total and abdominal obesity are associated with hypertension in females. WC, BMI, WHR and WHtR can be incorporated in routine health examination of patients to predict the risk of future cardiovascular diseases. Also, it is important to decrease the adiposity level in females for substantial reduction in hypertension. Intervention programs to reduce adiposity through lifestyle modification, including exercise and diet, may play a significant role in public health in reducing the incidence of hypertension.