Associations between body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and high blood pressure among adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the associations between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and high blood pressure (HBP), and to determine which anthropometric parameters can best predict HBP among Lithuanian adolescents aged 12–15 years. Data from the survey of “Prevalence and Risk Factors of HBP in 12–15-Year-Old Lithuanian Children and Adolescents (Study 1, 2010–2012)” were used; a total of 7,457 respondents (3,494 boys and 3,963 girls) were included in this analysis. Adolescents with BP above the 90th percentile were measured on two different occasions. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the associations and to calculate odds ratios. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive ability of the three anthropometric parameters to predict HBP. The adjusted odds ratios (aOR) in the highest quartiles of BMI, WC, and WHtR were statistically significant for both sexes separately (reference group – the first quartile): in boys, prehypertension – 4.91, 4.09, and 1.59; hypertension – 7.96, 6.44, and 2.81; and prehypertension/hypertension – 6.85, 5.65, and 2.37, respectively; and in girls, prehypertension – 3.42, 2.70, and 1.66; hypertension – 5.71, 3.54, and 2.90; and prehypertension/hypertension – 4.62, 3.17, and 2.31, respectively). According to the analyses of the ROC curve, BMI z-score provided the largest area under the curve (AUC) value, followed by WC z-score, while WHtR z-score showed the lowest AUC value in predicting elevated BP in both sexes separately. Among Lithuanian adolescents aged 12–15 years, both anthropometric indices – BMI and WC (but particularly BMI) – showed stronger associations with HBP and were better for the prediction of HBP, compared to WHtR.

Association Between Abdominal Waist Circumference and Blood Pressure In Brazilian Adolescents With Normal Body Mass Index

“…The prevalence of high blood pressure among adolescents is increasing [3]. In our study, the prevalence of elevated BP was compatible with recent reports which grouped pre-hypertensive and hypertensive status in the analysis [25,26]; and also with the total population of ERICA study, in which 14.5% pre-hypertensive and 9.6% hypertensive adolescents were identified, aiming total prevalence of elevated BP of 24.1% [14]. Despite that, it is a not common practice to screen for hypertension among children and adolescents routinely [27].…”

An Assessment of the Relationship between Anthropometric Parameters and Blood Pressure among Polokwane Private School Children

“…As indicated on the findings of the current study, among other anthropometric body composition variables, BMI and height were consistently significantly associated with SBP in correlation, linear regression and logistic regression. A study by Kuciene and Dulskiene [20] reported that body mass and stature in boys and body mass in girls were the most influential predictors of SBP. Furthermore, it was observed that age and body size in boys accounted for most of the SBP differences than percentage body fat [13,21].…”

A Physical Activity Recommender System for Patients With Arterial Hypertension

“…All models developed in this study use Body Mass Index (BMI) and Abdominal Circumference (AC) values for the calculations, since both are strongly associated with hypertension and its risk factors [41]- [44].…”