Association between Anthropometric Measures and Indicators for Hypertension Control among Kazakh-Chinese Hypertension Patients in Xinjiang, China: Results from a Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Among Kazakh-Chinese population in Xinjiang province of China, prevalence of obesity and hypertension were 40.1% and 50.3% respectively, the highest across all ethnic groups residing in this pastureland. Despite this, there remained a dearth of information regarding the association between the anthropometric measures [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) etc.] and indicators for hypertension control [achieved levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP), pulse pressure index (PPI), ankle-brachial index (ABI) etc.] among them. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Xinjiang to determine the distribution and inter-relationships of the anthropometric measures and indicators for achieved BP control as well as their predictors among hypertension patients of Kazakh-Chinese ethnicity. Out of 550 randomly selected patients, 516 completed the interview, anthropometry and BP assessments. RESULTS: In the sample population, average SBP, DBP and PP were 156.26±24.40mmHg, 87.55±14.73mmHg and 68.71±19.39mmHg respectively. Bivariate analysis identified age, gender, education, duration of hypertension, WC and BMI being factors influencing the achieved levels of BP. Adjusted multiple linear regression models elicited positive associations of age (β(a) = 0.152, p = 0.001) and duration of hypertension (β(a) = 0.132, p = 0.003) with achieved level of SBP as well as BMI (β(a) = 0.135, p = 0.002) with DBP. Age (β(a) = 0.207, p<0.001) and WHtR (β(a) = 0.304, p = 0.005) were positively and WC (β(a) = -0.406, p<0.001) was negatively associated with PPI. Increasing age (β(a) = -0.125, p = 0.005), female gender (β(a) = -0.122, p = 0.005) and 5years’ duration of hypertension (β(a) = -0.091, p<0.039) were negatively associated with ABI. After adjustment for socio-demographic variables, hypertensive patients with (reference = without) abdominal obesity had 93% (p = 0.013) higher odds of missing the target BP control. CONCLUSION: Anthropometric measures and indicators for blood pressure control among Kazakh-Chinese patients were far beyond normal. Several anthropometric measures appeared useful for monitoring BP. Using them, regular screening and consequent targeted intervention were required urgently to control hypertension among Kazakh-Chinese.