The interplay between hypertension and BMI in Coptic teenagers
- Urology & Nephrology Open Access Journal
-
Ivana Boktor,1
Ahmed E Ali,2
Ammar
Almehmi3
Abstract
Background: Elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) is a significant risk factor for developing
hypertension (HTN). Other factors, including family history, smoking, and energy drinks
consumption, can potentially increase the risk for HTN. Limited data are available on the
risk factors for HTN in Coptic adolescent population. Hence, this study sought to investigate
the association between these risk factors and HTN in Coptic adolescents.
Methods: A screening survey was conducted on 140 high school students who attended
church services. After signing a consent form, each participant was interviewed and asked
to answer the survey questions. The blood pressure was measured twice after 15 minutes of
rest using Omron device. Both weight and height were measured, and BMI was calculated
using CDC BMI calculator. Descriptive statistics, univariate, and multivariable logistic
regression analyses were used to explore the relationship between the HTN and other
potential variables.
Results: The cohort included 70 females (50%) and 70 males (50%) aged 16-21. The
overall prevalence of HTN was 45.7% (73% in males and 18.6% in females). Participants
were categorized by BMI into normal (n=78), overweight (n=44), and obese (n=18) groups.
Compared to the normal weight group, the odds ratio (OR) for HTN in the overweight
and obesity groups was 7.2 (95% C.I. 3.1 – 16.6, p<0.001) and 1.9 (95% C.I. 0.67 –
5.5, p=0.27), respectively. Among the total cohort, hypertensive individuals exhibited
significantly higher BMI compared to normotensive individuals (26.3 [23.5, 28.3] vs.
22.5 [20.6, 25.7], p=0.001). However, there was no association between HTN and other
covariates (p>0.05). In multivariable logistic regression, the association between HTN and
elevated BMI remained significant (adjusted OR 3.8, 95% C.I. 1.6 – 9.3; p=0.002).
Conclusion: our findings are consistent with accumulative evidence about the positive
relationship between BMI and HTN, which is a part of the metabolic syndrome. Moreover,
this is the first study to investigate the risk factor profile for HTN in Coptic adolescents.
Larger scale epidemiologic studies are needed to assess the prevalence of HTN in this
population and the best approach to manage the modifiable risk factors.
Keywords
hypertension, BMI
