Associations Between Arterial Compliance and Anthropometry of Children from Four Ethnic Groups in South Africa: the THUSA BANA Study

Abstract

Aim: To investigate whether associations and differences exist regarding the arterial compliance, dietary intake and anthropometric parameters of children of four different ethnic groups in South Africa. Study Design: In this study, 1244 children from four ethnic groups, aged 10–15 years, were randomly selected from five regions of the North West Province. Blood pressure was measured with a Finapres apparatus and analysed to obtain systemic arterial compliance. Measurements were done to obtain body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio and percentage body fat. Dietary intake was determined with a 24-h dietary recall questionnaire. Results: The black and mixed-origin subjects indicated the lowest values (p ≤ 0.05) for BMI, percentage body fat, and dietary intake, whereas the white and Indian subjects showed significantly higher values than the other ethnic groups. The white and Indian children had significantly higher arterial compliance than the black and mixed-origin children at all ages from 10 to 15 years. Compliance showed significant correlations with all anthropometric parameters. Conclusion: Since black and mixed-origin children have the highest prevalence of undernutrition and stunted growth, it is suggested that parental undernutrition and inadequate nutrition in early life, associated with lower arterial compliance, may lead to the onset of adult hypertension.