The accuracy of anthropometric indices in detecting hypertension in Sudanese adults: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Hypertension is an increasing health problem; hence, efforts have been made to promote the disease's early detection and modify prognoses. We aim to evaluate the accuracy of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-height ratio (WHtR) in detecting hypertens...
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2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21276-8 |
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| author | Imad R. Musa Osman E. Osman Ahmed M. Khair Ishag Adam |
| author_facet | Imad R. Musa Osman E. Osman Ahmed M. Khair Ishag Adam |
| author_sort | Imad R. Musa |
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| description | Abstract Background Hypertension is an increasing health problem; hence, efforts have been made to promote the disease's early detection and modify prognoses. We aim to evaluate the accuracy of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-height ratio (WHtR) in detecting hypertension among adults in Northern Sudan. Methods Adults were recruited for a multi-stage sampling survey in Northern Sudan. Sociodemographic and anthropometric index (BMI, WC, and WHtR) information were collected. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with its area under the curve (AUC) was obtained, and a multivariate binary analysis was performed. Results Of the 301 included adults, 113 (37.5%) were females and 188 (62.5%) were males. The median (interquartile range, IQR) age was 45.0 (32.0‒59.0) years. The median (IQR) of BMI, WC, and WHtR was 25.6 (21.9‒29.7) kg/m2, 83.0 (73.0‒94.8) cm, and 0.51 (0.43‒0.58), respectively; these values were significantly higher in adults with hypertension compared with adults without hypertension. A total of 166 (55.1%) adults had hypertension. BMI (AUC = 0.69 at the cutoff 22.5 kg/m2, sensitivity = 0.89, specificity = 0.53, YI = 0.35) and WHtR for both males and females (AUC = 0.68 at the cutoff 0.48, sensitivity = 0.75, specificity = 0.60, YI = 0.35) were more accurate than WC (AUC = 0.66 at the cutoff 77.5 cm, sensitivity = 0. 77, specificity = 0.56, YI = 0.33). The multivariate binary analysis revealed that being female (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.23, 95.0% CI = 1.25‒3.97), having increased age (AOR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.02‒1.05), and having a higher BMI (AOR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.04‒1.16) were associated with hypertension. Conclusion BMI, WC, and WHtR showed moderate predictive power, suggesting that these indices have a limited role in diagnosing hypertension at the individual level and are more appropriate for population screening than for individual diagnosis. BMI performs better than WC in terms of hypertension detection. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-65400ef295e441d5b2a4d9f21bd4ba41 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-65400ef295e441d5b2a4d9f21bd4ba412025-01-19T12:41:46ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-012511910.1186/s12889-025-21276-8The accuracy of anthropometric indices in detecting hypertension in Sudanese adults: a cross-sectional studyImad R. Musa0Osman E. Osman1Ahmed M. Khair2Ishag Adam3Royal Commission Hospital at AL Jubail Industrial CityFaculty of Medicine, Alneelain UniversityRoyal Commission Hospital at AL Jubail Industrial CityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Qassim UniversityAbstract Background Hypertension is an increasing health problem; hence, efforts have been made to promote the disease's early detection and modify prognoses. We aim to evaluate the accuracy of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-height ratio (WHtR) in detecting hypertension among adults in Northern Sudan. Methods Adults were recruited for a multi-stage sampling survey in Northern Sudan. Sociodemographic and anthropometric index (BMI, WC, and WHtR) information were collected. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with its area under the curve (AUC) was obtained, and a multivariate binary analysis was performed. Results Of the 301 included adults, 113 (37.5%) were females and 188 (62.5%) were males. The median (interquartile range, IQR) age was 45.0 (32.0‒59.0) years. The median (IQR) of BMI, WC, and WHtR was 25.6 (21.9‒29.7) kg/m2, 83.0 (73.0‒94.8) cm, and 0.51 (0.43‒0.58), respectively; these values were significantly higher in adults with hypertension compared with adults without hypertension. A total of 166 (55.1%) adults had hypertension. BMI (AUC = 0.69 at the cutoff 22.5 kg/m2, sensitivity = 0.89, specificity = 0.53, YI = 0.35) and WHtR for both males and females (AUC = 0.68 at the cutoff 0.48, sensitivity = 0.75, specificity = 0.60, YI = 0.35) were more accurate than WC (AUC = 0.66 at the cutoff 77.5 cm, sensitivity = 0. 77, specificity = 0.56, YI = 0.33). The multivariate binary analysis revealed that being female (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.23, 95.0% CI = 1.25‒3.97), having increased age (AOR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.02‒1.05), and having a higher BMI (AOR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.04‒1.16) were associated with hypertension. Conclusion BMI, WC, and WHtR showed moderate predictive power, suggesting that these indices have a limited role in diagnosing hypertension at the individual level and are more appropriate for population screening than for individual diagnosis. BMI performs better than WC in terms of hypertension detection.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21276-8HypertensionAgeBody mass indexWaist circumferenceRisk factorsSudan |
| spellingShingle | Imad R. Musa Osman E. Osman Ahmed M. Khair Ishag Adam The accuracy of anthropometric indices in detecting hypertension in Sudanese adults: a cross-sectional study BMC Public Health Hypertension Age Body mass index Waist circumference Risk factors Sudan |
| title | The accuracy of anthropometric indices in detecting hypertension in Sudanese adults: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | The accuracy of anthropometric indices in detecting hypertension in Sudanese adults: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | The accuracy of anthropometric indices in detecting hypertension in Sudanese adults: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The accuracy of anthropometric indices in detecting hypertension in Sudanese adults: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | The accuracy of anthropometric indices in detecting hypertension in Sudanese adults: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | accuracy of anthropometric indices in detecting hypertension in sudanese adults a cross sectional study |
| topic | Hypertension Age Body mass index Waist circumference Risk factors Sudan |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21276-8 |
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