RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OBESITY INDEXES AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN HISPANIC ADOLESCENTS

Objective: To determine the association between the obesity indexes and blood pressure (BP) in Hispanic adolescents. Design and method: It was conducted a population-based study in Maracaibo, Venezuela, that included 3626 subjects, 1610 males and 2016 females (mean-age: 15 years). Resting BP was recorded and the adolescents were categorized according to the American Academy of Pediatric Recommendations. Also, demographic data (age, gender) and anthropometric parameters [weight, height, waist and hip circumference] were measured. The obesity indexes were determined based in body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and waist to height ratio (WHtR). The chi-square test was applied to determine the association between the obesity indexes and BP. Also, the logistic regression analysis was used to study the most important risk factors for high BP. Results: The prevalence of high-normal BP and hypertension were 8.8% [95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) = 7.9 – 9.7] and 4.4% [95% CIs = 3.4 – 4.6], respectively. Obesity prevalence was 16.2%, 13.8%, 8.7% and 15.1% according to BMI, WC, WHR and WHtR, respectively. All obesity indexes studied shown statistically significant association with high-normal BP and hypertension conditions (p<0.0001). The obesity conditions by BMI and WC were the most important risk factors for high-normal BP (OR = 2.047; 95% CIs=1.383-3.030; and OR= 1.953; 95% CIs=1.299-2.936, respectively) and for hypertension (OR = 3.495; 95% CIs=2.105-5.801; and OR=2.365; 95% CIs=1.411-3.964, respectively). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of high BP in Hispanic adolescents. Both general obesity and abdominal obesity are highly associated with high BP in this age group.