Association between Height and Blood Pressure among Filipino Adults Based on the Philippine National Nutrition Survey

Hypertension (HTN) among Filipino adults significantly impacts health and well-being. Identifying and understanding the different risk factors associated with HTN is crucial; such risk marker not often considered is the relationship of height with blood pressure (BP). Thus, this study investigated whether a positive or inverse association exists between height and BP components among Filipino adults. Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the 2018–2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) by the Department of Science and Technology–Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) was utilized for this study. Participants who had complete data based on the survey components were selected. Measured heights were categorized into sex-specific height quartiles, and a linear trend test was performed. Multivariate linear regression models were generated from the association of BP parameters with height. The height quartiles for males were Quartile 1 (Q1) < 158.0 cm, Quartile 2 (Q2) 158.0–163.0 cm, Quartile 3 (Q3) 163.1–167.0 cm, and Quartile 4 (Q4) > 167.0 cm; for females, they were Q1 < 147.0 cm, Q2 147.0–151.0 cm, Q3 151.1–155.0, and Q4 > 155.0. Looking at the BP-stature pattern, results showed that systolic blood pressure (SBP) values for both sexes decrease as the height increases; on the contrary, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) progressively increases as the height increases. In addition, for each centimeter increase in height among the participants, SBP decreases linearly (females; –0.261 mmHg, p < 0.001: males; –0.012 mmHg, p = 0.589), whereas DBP increases (females; 0.039 mmHg, p = 0.002: males; 0.146 mmHg, p < 0.001). However, after adjustment to covariates, analyses showed positive associations between height and BP components among the study participants. Further studies should incorporate other risk factors for height and HTN such as participants' childhood nutrition and lifestyle habits.