Anthropometric indexes of obesity and hypertension in elderly from Cuba and Barbados
A Rodrigues Barbosa1, D Balduino Munaretti, R Da Silva Coqueiro
1Nucleo de Pesquisa em Cineantropometria e Desempenho Humano, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina - Campus Trindade - Florianopolis - SC - Brazil. alinerb@cds.ufsc.br
Insights
Obesity indicators like waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio are linked to hypertension in older adults. These associations varied between men and women and across different cultural groups in Barbados and Cuba.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Arterial hypertension is a significant health concern in aging populations.
- Obesity is a known risk factor for hypertension, but specific anthropometric indicators may vary in their predictive power across different demographics.
- Understanding these relationships is crucial for targeted public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between various anthropometric obesity indexes and arterial hypertension.
- To compare these associations in elderly populations in Barbados (Bridgetown) and Cuba (Havana).
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional data from the Survey on Health, Aging and Well being in Latin America and the Caribbean (SABE) were utilized.
- 1508 elderly subjects (≥60 years) in Bridgetown and 1905 in Havana were analyzed.
- Hypertension was self-reported; anthropometric measures included BMI, WHR, W/ht, WC(L), and WC(OK). Binary logistic regression was employed.
Main Results:
- In Bridgetown, WC(OK) and W/Ht were associated with hypertension in men; WCL and WCOK in women.
- In Havana, most indicators, except WHR, were associated with hypertension, with WCOK and W/ht showing the strongest links.
- Associations between anthropometric indicators and hypertension differed between genders and cultural groups.
Conclusions:
- The effectiveness of anthropometric indicators in predicting hypertension varies by sex and cultural background.
- Waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio appear particularly relevant in these elderly populations.
- Findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive approaches to managing obesity and hypertension in older adults.
Objective:
To investigate the association between various anthropometric indexes of obesity with arterial hypertension in elderly from Barbados (Bridgetown) and Cuba (Havana).
Design:
Cross-sectional data were extracted from the Survey on Health, Aging and Well being in Latin America and the Caribbean (SABE).
Sample Size:
In Bridgetown and Havana, respectively, 1508 and 1905 subjects ( ≥ 60 years) were examined, and were selected by a controlled sampling design.
Measurements:
The occurrence of hypertension was assessed by self-report. Multiple measurements of adiposity were used including body mass index (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m(2)), waist hip ratio (WHR = > 0.95 men; > 0.80 women), waist to height ratio (W/ht. = > 0.50) and waist circumference - WC(L) ( > 88 cm, women; > 102 cm, men) e WC(OK) ( > 90.3 cm, women; > 91.3 cm, men). Binary logistic regression analyses (Odds Ratio) were used to measure strengths of relationships.
Results:
In the elderly of Bridgetown, the final design (adjusted for age, education, race, smoking, regular physical activity and diabetes) shows that, in men, WC(OK) and W/Ht were associated with hypertension, and in women, WCL and WCOK were the indexes associated. In the Cuban elderly, the final design shows that, with the exception of WHR, all indicators were associated with hypertension. WCOK and W/ht were the indexes most strongly associated with the outcome.
Conclusion:
The explanatory power of anthropometric indicators when determining the outcome differed between men and women, as well as between cultural groups living in relative proximity (Barbadians and Cubans).
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