Anthropometric indices, a predictive marker for stroke and other metabolic disorders

Abstract

Although a lot of studies have been conducted on stroke and its prevention, stroke is yet a common occurrence in Nigeria. Hence, it becomes imperative to identify reliable and easily accessible predictive markers for stroke and other metabolic disorders. This research therefore aimed to investigate the prediction of stroke and other metabolic disorders using anthropometric indices. The study population included 211 subjects with 86 males and 125 females at an age range of 26 to 95 years, and the selection process employed a simple random sampling method. Anthropometric indices like body mass index, waist-hip ratio, waist circumference, hip circumference and abdominal circumference were measured. The body mass index and waist-hip ratio in females compared to their male counterparts were 32.32 and 28.90 respectively for body mass index and 0.95 and 0.94 respectively for the waist-hip ratio. the male subjects had an abnormal body mass index, with peak values at ages greater than 36. The most number of stroke and metabolic disease patients were documented at the ages of 56 to 65 years for both male and female subjects. All females diagnosed with stroke and other metabolic diseases had an abnormal waist-hip ratio (>0.80) while most of the males had a high normal waist-hip ratio. There was also a statistically significant sex variation (p ≤ 0.05) in the body mass index and hip circumference for patients diagnosed with stroke and other metabolic diseases. No correlation exists between age and the occurrence of stroke and other metabolic diseases. The findings show that the anthropometric indices: body mass index, waist hip ratio and hip circumference were better predictive markers than the age of the subjects. Again, the study showed that high normal waist hip ratio was a good predictive marker for stroke and other metabolic disorders in males. The findings of this study will be relevant for medical experts, nutritionists, and stroke prevention associations