Assessment of Anthropometric and Body Composition Risk Factors in Patients with both Hypertension and Stroke in the Korean Population

The association of hypertension or stroke with anthropometric and body composition indices has been evaluated individually but not for patients with both conditions. Here, we compared these indices in patients with both hypertension and stroke and evaluated the best indicators for identifying patients with both diseases in the Korean population. Data were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted from 2008 to 2011. Data analysis was carried out using a complex sampling design that considered the weighting for personal analysis to represent the whole population in Korea. Binary logistic regression was conducted for evaluating potential associations, and areas under the curve were calculated to compare the predictive power of all variables for identifying patients with hypertension or both hypertension and stroke. Among all hypertension-related factors, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) exhibited a strong association in men (odds ratio (OR) = 1.390 [1.127-1.714]), whereas trunk-fat mass (OR = 1.613 [1.237-2.104]) and thoracic spine bone mineral density (BMD) (OR = 1.250 [1.044-1.496]) represented the best indicators in women. Comparison of anthropometric and body composition indices in patients with both diseases revealed that left arm BMD and left leg fat mass (LLF) were strongly associated in both men (OR = 0.504 [0.320-0.793]) and women (OR = 0.391 [0.208-0.734]). However, among patients with both hypertension and stroke, WHtR (OR = 1.689 [1.080-2.641]) and LLF (OR = 0.391 [0.208-0.734]) were the best risk predictors in men and women, respectively. Our findings suggested that the best indicators among patients with hypertension or both hypertension and stroke may differ according to men and women.