Relationship between Anthropometric Parameters and Blood Pressure in Sagamu Adolescents, Ogun State, South-West Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The blood pressure and anthropometric measurements are important for evaluating the health of children and adolescents, since cardiovascular abnormalities are becoming more and more common in this population. Previous studies have shown positive association between these variables but did not report the type of the relationship (whether linear or curvilinear).

Objectives: The study was to determine the relationship between anthropometric measures and blood pressure, and the kind of relationship.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of adolescent in Sagamu was carried out. Total of 1638 apparently healthy adolescents were randomly selected. The body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold (TSF), abdominal skinfold (ASF), and blood pressure of the participants were measured.

Results: The results showed a significant positive correlation between anthropometric measures and blood pressure in the whole population. Curvilinear (polynomial) relationship was also demonstrated between the variables. Coefficients of determination (R²) for BMI were 12.69% and 9.3%; R² for SSF, 2.21% and 1.42% for systolic and diastolic blood pressure respectively (p< 0.05).

Conclusions: Polynomial regression of orders five and six were demonstrated between BMI, SSF and blood pressure respectively in the present study.  Attention should be paid to the weight decrease in this population before cardiovascular risk becomes another burden.