Predictive value of obesity measurement index for H-type hypertension

Objective By investigating the obesity of the adult population in Hunan, we explored the relationship between body mass index (BMI) [including waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-body ratio (WHtR) and H-type hypertension] in predicting H-type hypertension. Methods A multi-stage random sampling method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey, physical examination and laboratory testing on 4 012 adults >30 years old in 6 districts of Hunan Province. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive effects of BMI, WC, WHR and WHtR on H-type hypertension. Results ROC curve analysis indicated that the area under curve (AUC) of the evaluation of H-type hypertension of WC, WHtR, WHR and BMI in men were: 0.637, 0.640, 0.601, 0.639, of which the largest were combination of WC+ BMI and WHtR+ BMI, both being 0.647. In women, the AUC of individual indexes WC, WHtR, WHR and BMI for evaluating H-type hypertension were 0.660, 0.670, 0.660 and 0.604 respectively. The combination of WHtR and WHR had the largest AUC, which was 0.675. The WC for evaluating H-type hypertension in youth people had the largest AUC(0.732); the WC+ BMI, WHR+ BMI for evaluating H-type hypertension in middle-aged people had the largest AUC, all being 0.687; the WC predicted the largest AUC of H-type hypertension in elderly people (0.590). Conclusions WC, WHtR, WHR and BMI are important predictors of H-type hypertension. The optimal indicators for different genders and ages are different, and the combined indicators are better than the individual indicators. Key words: Hyperhomocysteinemia; Hypertension; Obesity; Body weights and measures