Body Adiposity Indices as predictive screening tools for Nutritional Status and risk of hypertension among the Phalee Tangkhul, Ukhrul District, Manipur.

The present study attempts to associate anthropometric markers and blood pressure, thereby determining the most effective predictive marker for hypertension. A total sample of 350 adults aged 20 to 70 years was included in the study after getting consent. Anthropometric data and blood pressure were collected using standard procedures. Significant t-tests, chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation analyses were performed between the anthropometric body adiposity measures and blood pressure. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was calculated to assess the risk of hypertension. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to find the anthropometric markers predictive cut-off values. The prevalence of hypertension was 23.4% in males and 22.3% in females, respectively. The nutritional status of overweight and obese individuals was greater in females (38.9% and 13.1%) compared to males (37.1% and 8.6%). Anthropometric indicators, including BMI, WC, WHR, and WHtR, strongly correlate with elevated blood pressure in both sexes. The ROC analysis shows WHtR has the highest area under curve (AUC) value of 0.669 in males, whereas BMI has an AUC of 0.804 in females, indicating it is a more effective predictor for high blood pressure. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (6.20; 5.30), anxiety (8.13; 6.69), alcohol use (11.81; 6.64), physical activity (8.32; 9.17), smoking (10.05; 10.44), and salt intake (6.31; 5.40) were all independently associated risk factors of hypertension, irrespective of sex. The study concluded that anthropometric markers such as BMI, WC, WHR, and WHtR could predict hypertension risk among the Phalee Tangkhul. Lifestyle factors such as physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, salt intake, age, and anxiety are independent risk factors for high blood pressure.