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Family Practice Advance Access published online on June 17, 2005
Family Practice, doi:10.1093/fampra/cmi043
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© The Author (2005). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
Received May 28, 2004
Accepted April 21, 2005

Article

Which anthropometric measurements is most closely related to elevated blood pressure?

Bektas Murat Yalcin 1*, Erkan Melih Sahin 2, and Esra Yalcin 3

1 Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine
2 Trakya University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine
3 Social Insurance Institution Main Region Hospital, Department of Neurology

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Bektas Murat Yalcin, E-mail: myalcin{at}omu.edu.tr


  Abstract

Background. Epidemiological studies find a progressive increase in the prevalence of elevated blood pressure with increasing adipose tissue. But there is no common opinion about which effectiveness of the anthropometric measurement tools indicating general or android obesity are most important to follow up in patients with elevated blood pressures.

Objectives. To identify which anthropometric measurements are most closely related to blood pressure elevation.

Methods. A cross-sectional descriptive study of 1727 subjects [894 (50.6%) men and 833 (48.2%) women, aged 18-65 years old] was held in Edirne, Turkey. Each subject's weight, height, waist and hip circumference, triceps skin fold and blood pressures was measured; waist to hip ratio and body mass index were calculated. The relations between blood pressure and different anthropometric variables in both genders were investigated in linear regression models.

Results. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 123.49 ± 17.60 and 78.79 ± 10.37 mmHg. According to body mass index 23.7% of the subjects were obese (>29.9 kg/m2). When waist circumference cut-off points were compared with waist to hip ratio the android obesity ratio was doubled (32.3% versus 16.6%). 119 subjects (6.8%) were not obese according to body mass index but nonetheless had waist circumference measurements above the cut-off points suggesting a high cardiovascular risk. In the linear regression models waist circumference was found to be an independent risk factor for blood pressure in men; however body mass was more important index and waist circumference somewhat less so for women.

Conclusion. In primary care waist circumference should be a useful tool screening for and following android obesity in patients with elevated blood pressure.

Keywords: Anthropometric measurements; blood pressure; obesity; primary care; Turkey.
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