Correlation of Pulse Transit Time, Respiratory Indices, Blood Pressure and Body Mass Index in Normotensive Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Poor sleep health may be a potential risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, if proper sleep hygiene is not maintained during young adult life-span. Objective was to assess the correlation of frequency of micro-arousals and blood pressure (BP) with body mass index (BMI) among normotensive young adults. Thus, this cross-sectional study examines PTT, respiratory indices, blood pressure, and BMI in normotensive adults to find early physiological indicators of cardiovascular risk. Methodology: A total number of 80 subjects were enrolled and were divided into two groups according to BMI, after ethical approval (No.: 2651/R.Cell-72) from the institute. BMI and blood pressure were taken. Sleep quality was assessed by Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Pulse transit time (PTT) indices and respiratory indices were measured by full night polysomnography. Results: Subjects with high value of BMI showed poor sleep quality and high value of pulse transit time deceleration index compared to subjects with lower BMI and difference was statistically significant. Subjects with higher BMI had higher value of systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP). SBP and DBP were positively correlated with PTT deceleration index and correlation coefficient was 0.127, 0.634, respectively, and correlation of DBP with PTT deceleration index was statistically significant (p < 0.001), in subjects having higher BMI. Conclusions: There is higher prevalence of poor sleep quality and higher frequency of micro-arousals in subjects with high BMI. PTT deceleration index is negatively correlated with body mass index and this correlation is statistically significant. BMI shows positive correlation with systemic blood pressure.