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Association between body mass index and blood pressure across three populations in Africa and Asia

Abstract

Despite a growing burden of obesity and hypertension in developing countries, there is limited information on the contribution of body mass index (BMI) to blood pressure (BP) in these populations. This study examines the association between BMI and BP in three populations across Africa and Asia. Data on BMI, BP and other background characteristics of study participants were generated using the World Health Organization STEPwise approach to surveillance (STEPS), at three demographic surveillance sites in Ethiopia, Vietnam and Indonesia. BMI and BP increased along the socioeconomic gradient across the three countries. Mean (s.d.) BMI in men varied between 19.41 (2.28) in Ethiopia to 21.17 (2.86) in Indonesia. A high prevalence of overweight/obesity was noted among Indonesian women (25%) and men (10%), whereas low BMI was widely prevalent in Ethiopia and Vietnam, ranging from 33 to 43%. Mean (s.d.) systolic BP (SBP) among men varied between 117.15 (15.35) in Ethiopia to 127.33 (17.80) in Indonesia. The prevalence of hypertension was highest among women (25%) and men (24%) in Indonesia. Mean BP levels increased with increasing BMI. The risk of hypertension was higher among population groups with overweight and obesity (BMI25 kg/m2); odds ratio (95% confidence interval); 2.47 (1.42, 4.29) in Ethiopia, 2.67 (1.75, 4.08) in Vietnam and 7.64 (3.88, 15.0) in Indonesia. BMI was significantly and positively correlated with both SBP and DBP in all the three populations, correlation coefficient (r) ranging between 0.23 and 0.27, P<0.01. High BP exists in a background of undernutrition in populations at early stages of the epidemiologic transition.

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Acknowledgements

Financial and technical support for this study was made available by the WHO, Geneva, as well as by the special grant from the Swedish Council for Social and Work Life Research (FAS), No. 2003-0075. We would like to acknowledge Professor Hans Stenlund for his valuable technical inputs during the analysis of the data. Study participants and host institutions at the three DSS are greatly acknowledged.

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Correspondence to F Tesfaye.

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Tesfaye, F., Nawi, N., Van Minh, H. et al. Association between body mass index and blood pressure across three populations in Africa and Asia. J Hum Hypertens 21, 28–37 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002104

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