Comparison between bioelectrical impedance analysis and anthropometric indices In hypertensive patients

Aim: Obesity is one of the most crucial challenges of contemporary medicine. Bioelectrical impedance analysis is a useful tool to identify individuals with increased fat mass. However, the equipment is relatively expensive, especially compared to basic anthropometric methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relations between anthropometric indices and bioelectrical impedance analysis in patients with uncomplicated arterial hypertension. Material and methods: In 137 hypertensives the correlations between fat mass (absolute, FM; relative, %FM) and anthropometric parameters (body mass index, BMI; waist circumference, WC; waist-to-hip ratio, WHR; waist-to-height ratio, WHtR; body adiposity index, BAI; visceral adiposity index, VAI) were analysed. Results: Classic anthropometrics correlated well with bioimpedance indices of adipose tissue content: %FM vs. BAI (R = 0.77), WHtR (R = -0.54), BMI (R = 0.52), WC (R = 0.29); FM vs. BMI (R = 0.82), WC (R = 0.66), BAI (R = 0.58), VAI (R = 0.26), WHtR (R = 0.23), WHR (R = 0.19). In females BMI, WC and BAI showed the strongest correlations with adiposity. In males they were WHtR and WC. Conclusions: Some anthropometric measurements show good agreement with bioelectrical impedance analysis and can be considered a valid surrogate for body composition assessment in the case of its inaccessibility. In hypertensive women WC and BMI seem to be the most precise in the assessment of %FM, while in men WHtR and WC are more useful.