Body Composition and Its Related with Hypertension in Elderly in Surakarta

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Several studies reported that obesity are linked to abnormal blood pressure. Body composition has been commonly measured using basic anthropometry including body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare body composition (body mass index and central obesity) on hypertension in elderly. METHOD: A cross sectional study was carried out in Surakarta, Central Java. A sample of 91 elderly was selected by accidental sampling. The dependent variable was hypertension. The independent variables were age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and central obesity. BMI and central obesity was used to measure body compo­sition. Blood pressure was measured by sphygmomano­meter, body weight was measured by digital scale (kg), and body height was measured by stature meter (cm). Central obesity was categorized by waist circumference (WC in centimeter) measurement. The other variables were obtained from questionnaire. Comparison of body composition on hypertension were examined using simple logistic regression run on Stata 13. RESULTS: Overweight (OR= 12.00; 95% CI= 0,81 to 177.44; p= 0.071) and obesity (OR= 10.4; 95% CI= 0.78 to 137.83; p= 0.076) in older peole increased the risk of hypertension and it was statistically marginally significant. Elderly with central obesity (waist circumference ≥94 cm for male or ≥80 cm for female) had higher risk to hypertension and it was statistically significant (OR= 3.07; 95% CI= 1.10 to 8.53; p= 0.032). CONCLUSION: High body compositions (overweight, obesity, or central obesity) increase the risk of hypertension in elderly.