Links between anthropometric parameters and hypertension in Tunisian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background. - Overweight and high blood pressure (HBP) are frequently associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of our study was to analyze the associations between anthropometric measures and HBP in Tunisian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods. - A cross-sectional study was conducted among 457 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who were assessed with measurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, weight, height and waist circumference (WC). Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. We performed ROC curves for each anthropometric parameter to assess its discriminant power predictive of HBP in type 2 diabetic patients. Results. - Obesity and HBP were observed in 49.2 % and 61.1 % of cases, respectively. The prevalence of HBP was significantly associated with weight status in diabetic women but not in diabetic men. Obesity and android fat distribution increased the risk of HBP in women by a factor of 2.11 and 6.75, respectively. Weight, BMI, WC and WHtR had areas under the curve less than 0.7. Cut-off values of BMI and WC for predicting the presence of HBP were different from those proposed by scientific societies for defining obesity. They were higher in women than in men. Conclusion. - The discrimination power of anthropometry in the detection of HBP was limited in our population suggesting its modest interest in epidemiological studies in the absence of possible blood pressure measurement. Furthermore, it seems important to determine specific references to the Tunisian population in terms of overweight. (C) 2018 Societe francophone nutrition clinique et metabolisme (SFNCM). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.