Associated between hypertension and body mass index, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels in elderly women

Abstract

Hypertension remains a significant public health problem, including in Indonesia. The highest number of sufferers is known to be the group of elderly women. Hypertension can occur because the heart pumps blood throughout the body strongly due to thickening and stiffness of the artery walls. The thickening increases with age.This study assesses the relationship between BMI, cholesterol, and blood glucose levels and women's systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This observational study was conducted using a cross-sectional design, where 330 women aged 60 years or older in West Aceh Regency were involved as samples.The correlations were conducted by simple linear regression (bivariate) and multiple linear regression tests to determine the relationship between independent variables (systolic and diastolic blood pressure) and dependent variables (BMI, cholesterol, and blood sugar level). The results of bivariate test show the correlation of BMI, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, with systolic blood pressure are weak, as indicated by the r values below 0.25. Meanwhile, BMI with diastolic blood pressure is moderate (r=0.272). In contrast, the correlation cholesterol and blood sugar levels with diastolic blood pressure are weak, with r values below 0.25. Multivariate analysis through linear regression showed that BMI (p<0.001), cholesterol (p<0.001), and blood glucose levels (p=<0.013) were significantly associated with systolic blood pressure. Furthermore, diastolic blood pressure was only significantly associated with BMI (p<0.001). BMI plays an essential role in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, while cholesterol and blood glucose levels only contribute to systolic blood pressure, not to diastolic blood pressure.