Associations between body mass index, waist circumference, waist circumference to-height ratio, and hypertension in an Algerian adult population

The aim of our study was to analyze the associations between anthropometric measures and high blood pressure (HBP) in Algerian patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 785 adults with normal BMI (248), overweight (253), and obese (284), who were assessed with measurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, weight, height, and waist circumference (WC). Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference-to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. We released receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for each anthropometric parameter to assess its discriminant power predictive of HBP in patients. Obese had a higher mean weight, WC, WHtR, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting glucose (FG), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) than overweight and normal weight. The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was higher in obese than overweight and normal weight. Results showed that obesity increased the risk of hypertension by a factor of 1.54 (95% CI [1.15, 2.06], (p = 0.004). Pearson's correlation data analysis showed that there was no relationship between systolic blood pressure and anthropometric parameters (BMI, WC, and WHtR). Only DBP was negatively associated with WHtR in the overweight group. All these parameters had areas under the curve between 0.409 and 0.618.The cutoff value of anthropometric WHtR parameters associated with the risk of hypertension was higher among women than men regardless of the BMI group considered. Contrary to the data of the literature, the discriminating power of anthropometry in the prediction of the HBP is limited or absent whatever the value of the BMI.

Automated summary

The aim of the study was to analyze the associations between anthropometric measures and high blood pressure in Algerian patients. Results showed that obesity increases the risk of hypertension, but the discriminatory power of anthropometry in predicting high blood pressure remains limited.