Anthropometric Indices in the Prediction of Hypertension in Female Adolescents

Background Identifying the best marker for appropriate screening of risk factors of chronic diseases seems necessary in any society. Objectives This study aimed at performing a comparative evaluation of anthropometric indices to determine a better marker for prediction of high blood pressure in adolescents. Methods This cross-sectional study was done during 2013 on 1046 students, aged 11 to 19 year old in Kashan, who were chosen by cluster and class sampling method. Height, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-high ratio (WHtR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of the subjects were measured. Blood pressure of all subjects, who had their blood pressures measured during the first visit, was measured during the second and third visit again, and the three measured blood pressure averages was considered as subjectsʹ blood pressure. Results This study showed a significant positive correlation between BP and body mass index (BMI), WC, WHR, and WHtR indices (P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed. Area under the curve (AUC) was obtained for BMI (0.62 to 0.73), WC (0.67 to 0.76), WHR (0.57 to 0.67), and WHtR (0.63 to 0.77) in diastolic blood pressure and BMI (0.66 to 0.76), WC (0.68 to 0.78), WHR (0.57 to 0.67) and WHtR (0.67 to 0.77) in systolic blood pressure. The WHtR in adolescents had better distinguishing power than other anthropometric indices. Conclusions The WHtR, as a relatively simple, inexpensive, and convenient measurement method is the best anthropometric index for determination of blood pressure in these subjects.