(EA03-14-25) Using Anthropometrics to Predict Hypertension Among Women of Color

Scientific conference where the work was recently presented: International Congress of Nutrition and Dietetics (ICND)

Date on which the work was previously presented at the scientific conference listed: June 14, 2024

Objectives: To assess the extent that waist-to-height (WHtR), waist-to-hip (WHR) ratios and waist circumference (WC) predict systolic blood pressure in Black women.

Methods: Established protocols for measuring blood pressures (BP), and anthropometrics were used in data collection. Waist-to-hip and waist-to height ratios along with BMIs were calculated. Recognized cutoff points were used to create groupings of health risks, weight, and in analysis for prediction variables.

Results: Most participants were obese (75%) or overweight (15%); 62.7% were categorized as hypertension stages 1 and/or 2. The WHtR index placed 89.8% of participants at increased or very high-risk categories for cardiovascular disease. Findings yielded a significant Chi-square (Χ²) interaction (Χ² (15) = 90.496, p < 0.001) from comparing frequencies of weight categories and WHtR risk levels. Mean systolic BP was 133.55 ±14.7 mmHg compared to published normal reference value of 120 mmHg. An overall regression model indicates that WHtR, WC, and WHR significantly predicted systolic BP [R² =0.093, (F1, 78) = 8.008, p = 0.006], [R² =0.082, (F1, 78) = 6.992, p = 0.010], [R² =0.070, (F1, 78) = 5.861, p = 0.018], respectively.

Conclusions: BMI/WhtR (r = 0.892), WC/WhtR (r = 0.950) and BMI/WC (r = 0.875) were highly correlated and therefore not considered independent variables in the same model. Each index accounted for some variance of systolic blood pressure. WHtR is stronger in predicting systolic BP in Black women and can be a useful surveillance indicator during nutrition health intervention.

Funding Sources: None