Effectiveness of Various Anthropometric Indices in Prediction of Cardiovascular Risk Among Adult Jains

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted on Jain population residing in Delhi to elucidate the effectiveness of various anthropometric indices as cardiovascular risk. A cross sectional sample of 48 adult Jain females (mean age=50.5yr) and 62 adult males (mean age=47.4yr) was studied. Various anthropometric and physiological measurements were taken on each subject. In the present study BMI was found to be a greater risk factor for cardiovascular health among Jain females supported by strong correlation of BMI with blood pressure [SBP, p<0.01 and DBP, p<0.001], by high ‘β’ values [β =0.578 for SBP and β = 0.762 for DBP] and by high odds ratio for hypertension [2.3 times more for DBP]. The waist height ratio was found to be a good cardiovascular risk-screening tool among adult Jain males as revealed by a significant positive association of WHtR with blood pressure [DBP, p<0.05], by high ‘β’ value [β=0.526 for SBP and β= 0.599 for DBP] and by elevated odds ratio for hypertension [21.9 times more for SBP and 3.9 times more for DBP]. Our study clearly revealed the gender specificity and relative effectiveness of anthropometric indices in prediction of cardiovascular health among Jain adults [BMI in Jain females and WHtR in Jain males].

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