Waist Circumference and Waist-Height Ratio of School-Going Children Aged 5 - 15 Yrs. Of Manipur, a North-Eastern State of India and Its Association With Hypertension

Abstract

BACKGROUND Childhood obesity is a precursor of metabolic syndrome in adulthood, characterized by hypertension and abnormal glucose metabolism. Waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio are an indicator of fat distribution in children and hence a useful predictor of cardiovascular risk. Objectives-To develop the waist circumference (WC) and waist height ratio (WHtR) percentile reference values of school going children aged 5-15yrs of Manipur, a northeastern state of India and to look its association with hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective, cross-sectional study was performed in school going children aged 5-15yrs in different districts of Manipur. Height, weight, WC and blood pressure (BP) were measured in 2334 children (1241 boys). Elevated BP was defined as either systolic BP or diastolic BP >95th percentile. Sex-specific reference percentiles were computed which construct reference percentiles. WC of 70 th , 75th and 90 th percentile, WHtR of 0.5 cut off were tested for its association with hypertension. RESULTS Age-and sex-specific WC and WHtR percentiles (5 th , 10 th , 25 th , 50 th , 70 th , 75 th , 90 th , and 95 th) are presented. WC values increased with age in both the boys and the girls. Statistically significant association of higher WC values with hypertension was shown in the overall age group and 10-15yrs group, but not in younger age group of 5-10yrs. CONCLUSION Simple easily measurable parameters like WC and WHtR can help in a long way in identifying children with and at risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Further regional studies should be conducted to better define the reference standard of WC and WHtR of children.