Predicting hypertension using waist circumference in obese Indonesian adolescents

Abstract

Background Increasing prevalence of pediatric obesity and hypertension demonstrate the urgent need for early intervention. Waist circumference (WC) provides a measurement of central obesity, which has been specifically associated with cardiovascular risk factor including hypertension. Objectives To identify the optimal cut􀀹off point of we in predicting hypertension in obese adolescents. Methods We randomly recruited 115 adolescents aged 12-17 years from schools in Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. We measured height, weight, WC, and blood pressure in 109 subjects. Optimum WC cut-offs to predict hypertension were determined using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC). Results The optimum WC cut off point to predict any hypertension in adolescents was at the 88.95 cm with 97.8% sensitivity and 47.3% specificity. Age􀀹specific cut􀀹off points for subjects < 15 year old was 90.1 cm with 91.7% sensitivity and 58%specificity, and for subjects 2: 15 year old was 103.5 cm with 75% sensitivity and 88% specificity. Conclusions Waist circumference can be used to predict hypertension in obese adolescents with fair sensitivity and specificity. Waist circumference values associated with hypertension in adolescents vary with age and ethnicity.

Keywords

• waist circumference
• hypertension
• adolescent
• obesity