ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SOMATOTYPES AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN SELECTED HEALTHY ADULTS OF BANGLADESH
Keywords:
Somatotype, Blood Pressure, Hypertension, Cardiovascular DiseasesAbstract
Background: Hypertension is a leading global health concern and a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, especially in low and middle-income countries. Studies on somatotypes as predictors of abnormal blood pressure (BP) are limited. This study investigates the association between somatotype components and BP among adults in the Noakhali district of Bangladesh, while also considering sex-specific variations and related cardiometabolic factors.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 392 participants. Somatotypes were determined by using the Heath-Carter method. Additional variables such as BP, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, hand grip strength, lipid profile, salt intake, and smoking status were recorded. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation and ordinal logistic regression were performed using SPSS 26.0.
Results: Somatotype components were associated with BP in a sex-specific pattern. In males, endomorphy (r=0.342, p<0.01) and mesomorphy (r=0.363, p<0.01) were positively correlated with SBP, while ectomorphy was inversely correlated (r=-0.370, p<0.01). Similar trends were observed for DBP. In females, mesomorphy showed positive correlations with both SBP and DBP (r=0.283, p<0.01; r=0.177, p<0.05), while endomorphy and ectomorphy was negatively associated. In female participants, adjusted regression analysis revealed that, mesomorphy increased the odds of elevated BP (AOR=1.432, p=0.002), whereas endomorphy reduced the odds (AOR=0.599, p=0.006).
Conclusion: Somatotype components were significantly associated with BP, with distinct gender-specific patterns. These findings suggest that somatotyping may serve as a useful, low-cost anthropometric tool for identifying individuals at risk for hypertension, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Furthermore, inclusion of larger sample size could enhance the generalizability and comprehensiveness of the findings.
