The relationship between mid-upper arm circumference and blood pressure in Walter Sisulu University community

Abstract

Prevalence of hypertension is increasing to higher levels in South Africa. Anthropometric measures for obesity are well known to predict the development of hypertension. However, the relationship between mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and blood pressure (BP) is scant in South African communities such as universities. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the correlation between MUAC and BP among the community of Walter Sisulu University (WSU). A total of 230 participants from WSU (students and staff members), 113 females and 117 males aged ≥ 18 years participated in this cross-sectional study. MUAC, systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were measured using standard procedures. In a Pearson’s correlation analysis, MUAC was positively correlated with SBP and DBP in both women (SBP; r = 0.53, P< 0.001; DBP; r = 0.45 P < 0.001) and men (SBP; r = 0.29 P = 0.001; DBP; r = 0.25 P = 0.007). Furthermore, in the multivariable-adjusted regression analysis, MUAC was positively associated with SBP in women only (adjusted R² = 0.489, β = 0.29 (95% CI = 0.16; 2.08)), P =0.023) after adjusted for age, body fat percentage, waist-to-height ratio, smoking and alcohol. MUAC is positively correlated with BP in women, not in men of WSU community. MUAC, as a simple and low-cost quantifiable parameter, could be employed as a risk indicator in the early detection and prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in women.

Plain Language Summary

This study investigated the use of an anthropometric measurement as an indicator for hypertension. Anthropometric measurements are non-invasive quantitative measurements of the human body. Within this study, we evaluated the productiveness of mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) as an indicator for hypertension in the WSU community. Studies have shown that MUAC, being a simple and cost-effective method, can be employed in resource-limited settings. Furthermore, the findings of this study have revealed a positive correlation between MUAC and blood pressure in women from the WSU community, indicating that the greater their MUAC, the higher their blood pressure, further emphasizing their increased risk of developing hypertension. Consequently, these findings will contribute in the prevention of hypertension and obesity, even in areas where accessibility to expensive resources is limited. Furthermore, this investigation has raised awareness about hypertension and obesity within the WSU community, encompassing individuals from diverse geographical regions and racial backgrounds. Thus, we firmly believe that this study has had a substantial impact. Additionally, it will serve as a motivation for the community to transition from unhealthy lifestyles to healthier ones, which include dietary improvements, increased physical activity, and decreased alcohol consumption. Ultimately, these changes will significantly reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords:

• mid upper arm circumference
• blood pressure
• obesity
• Walter Sisulu university community
• subcutaneous fat

Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to all participants (students and staff members).

Authors contributions

All authors contributed to design of the study. Conceptualization: W.S.M., Z.M.M., M.A.M., N.E.R.; Methodology, W.S.M.; analysis, W.S.M., N.E.R., investigation, W.S.M., data curation, W.S.M., and Z.M.M., writing—original draft preparation, W.S.M., writing—review and editing, W.S.M., Z.M.M., M.A.M., N.E.R.; supervision, N.E.R. The final approval of the paper and its revision were accomplished by all writers.

Availability of data and materials

The data that support the findings of this study are accessible from the corresponding author, however access to these data is restricted, because they were used under authorization for the current study and hence are not publicly available.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Ethical clearance was sought-after from the Health Sciences Ethics Committee of Walter Sisulu University, South Africa (protocol number: 068/2022). After detailed explanation of the purpose and aim of the study, as well as a brief demonstration of how the measurement techniques were conducted, written informed consent was sought-after from the participants before enrolment of the study. The study adhered to the standards of reporting and acted in accordance with the National Data Protection Acts, as the identities of the participants were kept confidential.

Consent to publication

Not applicable.

Competing interest

Nil

Additional information

Funding

This study received no external funding. All the equipment needed to complete the study were available in the Human Biology Department (Physiology).