Anthropometric predictors of blood pressure in women between the ages 26–45 years

Abstract

The study of 199 (26 to 45 years) women of Latvia was undertaken to study the anthropometric predictors of blood pressure between age groups. The data were collected in the years 2001–2005. The women were divided into two agegroups: I (26–35 years) and II (36–45 years) for making even sample analysis. Anthropometric variables of each woman including height, weight, waist and hip circumferences (WC, HC), and blood pressure (BP) were measured. Mean arterial blood pressure (MBP), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body mass index (BMI) were also calculated through standard equation. The relationships between blood pressure and different anthropometric variables were determined in both age groups. The mean age of the participants was 35.18±2.85. The mean±SD systolic blood pressures were 124.25±12.81 and 131.52±17.04 mmHg while the mean diastolic blood pressures were 82.78±9.78 and 88.71±12.44 mmHg in both age groups. The mean values of systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased with age. In this study anthropometric measurements such as weight, waist and hip circumferences (WC, HC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body mass index (BMI) indicated a strong positive relation with blood pressure in both age groups. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was not a significant predictor for systolic and diastolic blood pressures of women at the age of 26–35 years. According to this study, selected anthropometric measures were significant predictors of systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Therefore, it is important that early measurements of blood pressure, weight, waist and hip circumferences (WC, HC), and some indices become a routine in health services in order to prevent conditions or risk factors of different diseases.