Relationship between Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate in Muslim Females of Varanasi

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity along with cardiovascular diseases and pulmonary dysfunction is increasing nowadays. Many studies have demonstrated the interplay between these three factors. Thus, the study was carried out to assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP) and pulmonary expiration flow rate (PEFR) among 220 Muslim females of Varanasi. Body weight, height, BMI, PEFR, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were assessed through standard methods. Respondents aged 35-45 years had significantly higher (P<0.001) BMI as compared with the groups 15-24 years and 25-34 years. Body mass index had a significant positive correlation with SBP (P<0.001) and DBP (P<0.001) while correlated positively but not significantly with PEFR (P>0.05).