CORRELATION BETWEEN ANTHROPOMETRIC INDICES AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN A MUNICIPALITY OF NORTHEAST BRAZIL

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic arterial hypertension has presented high mortality worldwide, associated with cardiovascular risk factors such as overweight and abdominal obesity. Objective: To evaluate the anthropometric indexes and blood pressure in adolescents and young adults in the municipality of Santa Cruz-RN. Methods: This is a cross-sectional quantitative study of 86 individuals with a mean age of 19.0 ± 0.97 years. Body mass index (BMI), Waist Stature Ratio (WSR), Waist Hip Ratio (WHR), Conicity Index (CI) and Blood Pressure (BP) were evaluated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0, presented in percentage, mean and standard deviation. The T test was applied to evaluate the difference between the means, the correlation between anthropometric measures and blood pressure by the Pearson correlation. Results: The highest prevalence was female, 81.4%. Obesity was more present in adolescent boys than in girls, 33.3 and 13.9% respectively, as well as in young adults, 28.6% in men and 11.8% in women. The WSR was higher in girls and adult women (0.46 ± 0.07, 0.50 ± 0.08). On the other hand, WHR and CI were higher in boys (0.79 ± 0.06, 1.12 ± 0.74) and in adult males (0.82 ± 0.09, 1.15 ± 0.12) respectively. In both groups there was a moderate positive correlation between BMI and WSR with BP (p <0.05). Conclusion: The anthropometric indices showed a positive correlation with the elevation of blood pressure, especially BMI, WSR in adolescents and young adults.