Author:
Ramoshaba Nthai E.,Fihla Mthetho Q.,Mthethwa Wenzile S.,Tshangela Lisa,Mampofu Zuqaqambe M.
Abstract
Hypertension is a public health problem in South Africa. Increases in subcutaneous fat, presented by the neck circumference (NC) value, contribute to and predict the development of hypertension. However, to date, there has been no study done to investigate the relationship between the NC and blood pressure (BP) among historically disadvantaged university students. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the NC and BP among Walter Sisulu University students. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Walter Sisulu University. All 127 students were aged 18 years and above and underwent NC and clinical BP measurements using standard procedures. In a Pearson’s correlation analysis, the NC positively correlated with both the systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r = 0.5; p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r = 0.3; p < 0.001). Furthermore, in the multivariable-adjusted regression analysis, the NC was positively associated with both the SBP (adjusted R2 = 0.3, β = 2.0 (95% CI = 1.1; 2.9), p < 0.001) and DBP (adjusted R2 = 0.1 β = 0.950 (95% CI = 0.3; 1.6), p = 0.008) adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, waist-to-height ratio, alcohol, and smoking. The NC is related to BP among historically disadvantaged university students.
Subject
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Reference38 articles.
1. The epidemiologic transition revisited: Compositional models for causes of death by age and sex;Popul. Dev. Rev.,2002
2. (2021, August 25). Hypertension: World Health Organazation. Available online: https://www.who.int/health-topics/hypertension.
3. Kandala, N.-B., Nnanatu, C.C., Dukhi, N., Sewpaul, R., Davids, A., and Reddy, S.P. (2021). Mapping the burden of hypertension in south africa: A comparative analysis of the national 2012 sanhanes and the 2016 demographic and health survey. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18.
4. Worldwide epidemic of hypertension;Can. J. Cardiol.,2006
5. Obesity and cardiovascular disease: Pathophysiology, evaluation, and effect of weight loss: An update of the 1997 American Heart Association Scientific Statement on Obesity and Heart Disease from the Obesity Committee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism;Circulation,2006