Correlation of Indices of Obesity with Hypertension among Igbos in Enugu Metropolis

Background: Relationship between obesity and hypertension is well established and hypertension shows positive relationship with all obesity indices. Objective: To determine the obesity indicator with the greatest sensitivity in predicting hypertension. Method: A cross-sectional community-based descriptive survey was carried out in Enugu Metropolis. Multistage sampling procedures were used to select participants using the World Health Organization STEPS instrument. Height, weight, waist circumference; hip circumference and blood pressure were measured and recorded. Results: A total of 482 participants were recruited; of which 160 (33.2%) and 322 (66.8%) were males and females respectively. 89 (18.5%) participants have high systolic blood pressure, 117(24.3%) have high diastolic blood pressure, while the overall hypertension prevalence is seen in 123 participants (25.5%). The blood pressure was noticed to increase as obesity increases regardless of the index of obesity used and that at WHR≥1 all the 15 participants (M:8, F:7m) that crossed that threshold were hypertensive regardless of age and sex demonstrating the sensitivity of WHR in predicting hypertension and associated cardiometabolic risks. Conclusion: obesity and hypertension are interrelated and common in our environment, all the indices of obesity show positive correlation with hypertension but WHR offers a simple index that can be used to detect occult hypertension in our clinics due its 100% correlation at the WHR threshold of ≥1.