RESEARCH ARTICLE
SA JOURNAL OF DIABETES & VASCULAR DISEASE
32
VOLUME 16 NUMBER 1 • JULY 2019
Table 4 presents linear regression coefficients for the association
between anthropometric parameters and BP. The results exhibited
a significant positive (
p
< 0.000) relationship between WC and SBP
(beta = 0.273; 95% CI: 0.053–0.230), even after being adjusted
for age and gender (beta = 2.091; 95% CI: 1.129–3.871). There
was a significant positive (
p
< 0.002) association between WC and
DBP (beta = 0.141; 95% CI: 0.053–0.230) when the data were
unadjusted for age and gender. Triceps skinfold (
p
< 0.004) was
significantly associated with DBP (beta = 0.377; 95% CI: 0.633–
0.122), even after the data were adjusted for age and gender (
p
<
0.002) (beta = 0.412; 95% CI: 0.669–0.155).
Table 5 presents logistic regression analyses to determine the
risk of developing hypertension among young Ellisras adults. High
SBP was associated with abdominal obesity (WC) after adjusting
for age and gender (OR = 2.091, 95% CI: 1.129–3.871). There was
a significant association between high SBP and overweight (OR =
1.634, 95% CI: 1.012–2.801).
Discussion
The purpose of the study was to determine the association between
anthropometric parameters and BP among young Ellisras adults
aged 22 to 30 years. In this study, WC was significantly associated
with both SBP and DBP. This confirms the results of previous studies
in which a significant positive association between WC and both
SBP and DBP was reported among adults aged 23 to 40 years.
24,25
Although studies have been conducted in different parts of the
world, subjects of similar ages were targeted, therefore resulting
in similar findings. Furthermore, a study carried out in adolescents
aged 13 to 19 years found similar results.
9
However, Ashwell
et al
.
22
found that WHR was positively associated with SBP among adults.
The study focused on individuals aged 60 years and older, therefore
making the age difference a plausible explanation for the disparity
in published research findings.
Our study also found that there was no significant association
between both SBP and DBP and WHR. Contrary to this, Barbosa
et
al
.
26
found WHR to be significantly associated with both SBP and
DBP. Regarding skinfold thickness, the present study found that
both SBP and DBP were significantly correlated with triceps, biceps
and subscapular skinfolds among young Ellisras adults. Similarly,
Birmingham
et al
.
27
reported a significant positive correlation
between subscapular, triceps and biceps skinfolds and both SBP
and DBP in individuals aged 18 to 40 years. Furthermore, the
results agree with those of Dua
et al
.
28
and Timpson
et al
.,
29
which
indicated a significant positive association between triceps, biceps
and subscapular skinfolds and BP in adults.
In our study, men (1.9%) had a higher prevalence of hypertension
compared to women (1.3%). Tesfaye
et al
.
30
also found the
prevalence of hypertension to be higher in men (21.0%) than in
women (16.4%). It has been reported that gender differences
in the association between anthropometric variables and blood
Table 4.
Liner regression analysis for the association of WC, WHR and
skinfold thickness with blood pressure
Unadjusted
Adjusted
(for age and gender)
(for age and gender)
Variable
β
p
-value
95% CI
β
p
-value 95% CI
Systolic blood pressure
Triceps
0.229 0.171 0.556–0.099 0.397 0.013 0.709–0.085
0.527–1.182
0.010–0.647
1.420–0.697
0.603–0.160
0.465–0.088
0.163–0.378
0.143–0.064
0.025–0.059
16.654–8.327
9.419–14.301
0.160–0.386
0.127–0.343
Subscapular 0.854 0.000
0.318
0.057
Biceps
1.058 0.000
0.222
0.254
Supraspinale 0.188 0.181
0.108
0.435
Sum of 4
skinfolds 0.103 0.000
0.017
0.433
WHR
4.163 0.513
2.441
0.686
WC
0.273 0.000
0.253
0.000
Diastolic blood pressure
Triceps
0.377 0.004 0.633–0.122 0.412 0.002 0.669–0.155
0.013–0.525
0.137–0.404
0.392–0.172
0.216–0.412
0.225–0.207
0.165–0.218
0.053–0.006
0.037–0.031
7.766–11.726
6.243–13.286
0.053–0.230
0.036–0.213
Subscapular 0.269 0.039
0.133
0.333
Biceps
110 0.443
0.098
0.541
Supraspinale 0.009 0.935
0.058
0.608
Sum of 4
skinfolds 0.024 0.118
0.003
0.856
WHR
1.980 0.690
3.522
0.479
WC
0.141 0.002
0.124
0.124
Dependent variables: DBP and SBP.
WC, waist circumference; WHR, waist-to-hip ratio.
Table 5.
Logistic regression analysis of association of anthropometric
variables with hypertension among young Ellisras adults
Unadjusted
Adjusted
(for age and gender)
(for age and gender)
Variable
p
-value OR
95% CI
p
-value OR
95% CI
High systolic blood pressure
Abdominal
0.952 0.983 0.566–1.707 0.019 2.091 1.129–3.871
obesity
(WC)
1.012–2.801
0.415–1.051
Overweight 0.045 1.634
0.460
1.229 0.712–2.122
Abdominal 0.080 0.660
0.830
1.061
0.621–1.812
(WHR)
High diastolic blood pressure
Abdominal 0.989 1.005 0.491–2.059 0.273 1.543 0.711–3.343
obesity
(WC)
0.741–2.590
0.592–2.009
Overweight 0.308 1.385
0.676
1.147
0.604–2.177
Abdominal 0.782 1.090
0.308
1.396
0.735–2.653
obesity
(WHR)
Hypertension
Abdominal 0.041 2.775 0.891–8.585 6.186 0.049 1.0073–7.993
obesity
(WC)
0.221–4.614
0.514–4.896
Overweight 0.987 1.012
0.532
0.548
0.068–4.175
Abdominal 0.416 1.596
1.906
0.314
0.543–6.699
obesity
(WHR)
Dependent variables: DBP, SBP, hypertension.
WC, waist circumference; WHR, waist-to-hip ratio.