BMI TO BLOOD PRESSURE

RELATIONSHIP OF BMI TO BLOOD PRESSURE AND ETHNICITY A LOCAL SUBURBAN POPULATION OF KARACHI

Abstract

Objectives: To establish association of BMI, hypertension and ethnicity. Study
Design: Observational cross sectional survey. Setting: Patients attending medical OPD of Jinnah
Medical College Hospital Korangi, Karachi. Period: April 2014 to December 2014. Methods:
Blood pressure was measured and BMI calculated. The WHO recommended BMI cut off points
for South Asians were applied, overweight or obese were with a BMI of >23 kg/m2 or >27.5 kg/
m2 respectively. Cardiometabolic risk factors Diabetes and hypertension were recorded. SPSS
Version 20 was used to analyze data. Results: Of n= 420 (100%) patients n= 130 (31%) were
males and n=290 (69%) females. Mean age was 36.37 SD±12.98 years (CI 35.13-37.61)
Overweight (BMI 23-<27 kg/m2) were n=124(29.5%), and obese (BMI>27.5 kg/m2)) were
n=83 (19.8%). There were 6 major ethnic groups. Mean BMI>24kg kg/m2 was present in
females of all ethnic groups. Normal diastolic blood pressure in females was higher than
males in all ethnic groups except Urdu speaking p-value 0.000 Hypertension prevalence
n= 98(23.3%) showed significant differences (p-value 0.039) in ethnic groups, with highest
prevalence in SindhI n=10(30%) Urdu speaking n=27(27.8%), Punjabi n=14(26.9%), of
these n=66(69.3%) were overweight and n=37 (41.1%) obese p-value 0.000. There was a
significant relationship between BMI and hypertension in overweight and obese males and
females’ p-value 0.000 and 0.028 respectively. Conclusion: Significant relationship of BMI to
hypertension and ethnic differences in prevalence of hypertension exists. Mean BMI in females
is in the overweight category. Females have significant higher diastolic blood pressure than
males in all groups except Urdu speaking; Intervention for prevention of obesity and reducing
chronic disease burden needs to be urgently addressed.