Physiological anthropometric associations with health metrics across different blood types among nursing students

To investigate the relationship between anthropometric measurements indices (chest and arm size) and health metrics (BMI, blood pressure, pulse rate, and glycemia) in healthy adults and to explore the influence of blood groups on these parameters.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 157 nursing students of the University of Lahore from December 2022 to April 2023. In this study measurements of arm and chest circumference were taken from 157 nursing students. Blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate were measured per standard procedure. Blood typing was tested via agglutination, and glycemia was tested using biochemical assay techniques. Independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA were applied to compare means between genders and blood groups respectively. Pearson-correlation was used for association of anthropometric measures with health metrics within each gender and blood group.

Participants reported a direct association between BMI and arm size (r=0.236, p=0.003), in A+ (r=0.296, p=0.043) and B+ blood (r=0.362, p=0.022); this association was significant. BMI was directly associated with chest size in total participants (r=0.299, p<0.001), males (r=0.618, p<0.001), females (r=0.231, p=0.012), A+ (r=0.387, p=0.007), and B+ blood (r=0.397, p=0.011). Chest size was directly associated with glycemia in females (r=0.220, p=0.017) and total participants (r=0.187, p=0.019); in males, arm size was directly associated with glycemia (r=0.400, p=0.012). Arm size was inversely associated with diastolic-BP in B-blood (r=-0.742, p=0.035). Chest size was inversely associated with diastolic-BP in O-blood (r=-0.710, p=0.014).

Anthropometry and BMI were directly related, particularly in A+ and B+, suggesting these blood types are at higher risk for BMI-related cardiometabolic concerns. Males exhibited correlation of larger chest circumference with higher fasting glucose, indicating greater susceptibility to diabetes.