Exploring the relationship between pulse pressure and body mass index: a cross-sectional study at a tertiary care general hospital in central Gujarat

Abstract

Background: Pulse pressure (PP) reflects large-artery stiffness and predicts cardiovascular events. Obesity is highly prevalent in India, but its relationship with PP in Indian adults attending hospital services is poorly characterised.

Aim: To study the relationship between PP and body mass index (BMI) categories, and age-wise variation in both, in adults attending a tertiary care general hospital in central Gujarat.

Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 261 adults aged above 30 years attending a tertiary care general hospital in central Gujarat were selected by simple random sampling. Blood pressure was measured with a mercury sphygmomanometer and PP was calculated. BMI was classified by Asian-Indian cut-offs as normal (18.0–22.9 kg/m²), pre-obese (23.0–24.9 kg/m²) or obese (25.0 kg/m² or more). Pearson correlation was applied within each category.

Results: Of 261 participants, 158 (60.5%) were women and 164 (62.8%) were obese. Mean PP was 58.9 ± 17.7 mmHg and mean BMI 27.0 ± 4.9 kg/m². BMI correlated positively with PP in pre-obese (r = 0.49; P = 0.0025) and obese participants (r = 0.24; P = 0.0016), but not in those with normal BMI (r = 0.24; P = 0.33). Mean PP rose from 44.4 mmHg at 30–39 years to 62.0 mmHg at 50–59 years.

Conclusion: BMI was positively associated with PP in pre-obese and obese adults attending a tertiary care hospital, and PP was higher with advancing age. PP, a no-cost bedside measure, may help identify overweight adults, particularly those above 50 years, needing closer cardiovascular risk assessment.