ABSTRACT
Background: Studies in India shown high body fat indices were strongly associated with hypertension in Indian children, but such studies mostly not done in southern states of India. So, authors include children in Tamilnadu measure body fat indices and blood pressure to find which body fat index correlates closely with hypertension.Methods: Standing height was measured using stadiometer. Weight was measured using electronic scale. WC measured in standing position, by a stretch resistant.' WC above 90th centile will be considered as Adipose. Waist to height ratio optimal cut-off value is 0.44 for children. TSFT recorded using Harpenden caliper, on the non-dominant upper arm. Wrist circumference measured using stretch resistant tape.Results: In this study 2000 children were participated. More hypertensives are seen in 10 to 12 years(62) and 16 to 18 years(31).Increased weight correlated with hypertension. Study indicates waist circumference is significantly correlated with systolic BP p<0.003, diastolic BP p<0.000. This study shows significant correlation p<0.003 for systolic and p<0.000 for diastolic BP with triceps skin fold thickness estimation. In multivariate analysis with systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure shows very strong correlation with waist circumference, waist to height ratio and triceps skin fold thickness.Conclusions: In this study we investigate the correlation between body fat indices and blood pressure correlation was statistically analyzed which shows that waist circumference, waist to height ratio and triceps skin fold thickness were strongly correlated with systolic and diastolic BP.
ABSTRACT
Background: Data on peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) for Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India, school children is not available. Hence, this study aims to construct predicted equations for PEFR in both sexes in the age group of 5 - 12 years according to the height as a reference.Methods: About 961 healthy children (493 boys and 468 girls) were randomly selected from six schools of Madurai district. PEFR readings were repeated thrice and the' highest value of these 3 readings was taken as the observed PEFR. Linear regression analysis was performed using age, weight, height and body surface area (BSA) as independent variables and PEFR as the dependent variable.Results: Statistical correlation is found between height, age, BSA, weight and PEFR in both sexes. The variables which show significant positive relationship with PEFR are height (r=0.78), age (r=0.74), BSA (r=0.73), weight(r=0.67) of which height shows the most significant correlation. The regression equation for PEFR with height is: boys: PEFR =3.12 x (height)-211.85, girls: PEFR = 3.07 x (height)- 212.3.Conclusions: BSA needs further formula-based calculation and age may be falsely given in the school records or may be forgotten by uneducated parents. Weight is having less correlation coefficient compared to other parameters. So, this study recommends deriving predicted equation for PEFR based on height for both genders. The prediction equations for PEFR obtained in this study can be used as local reference for the follow up of children with respiratory disorders in and around Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India.