Abstract

TO STUDY THE EFFECT OF THE BODY MASS INDEX AND WAIST HIP RATIO ON BLOOD PRESSURE IN PRE- AND POST-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Background: Menopause is the transient period of declined ovarian activity and decreased oestrogen level associated with increased chances of obesity and increased comorbidities like hypertension, hypercholestrelemia, impaired cognitive function and cardio vascular dysfunction. Hypertension is one of the major cardiovascular risk factor for the excess mortality and morbidity in postmenopausal females. Aim & Objective: To study the effect of Body Mass Index and Waist Hip Ratio on Blood Pressure in Preand Post-Menopausal Women. Participants: Fifty premenopausal women in the age group of 40 to 45 years and fifty post- menopausal women in the age group of 50 to 55 years. Methodology: Standardised measurements of weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference and Blood Pressure were done. Results were analysed by student t’ –test. Statistical analysis was performed to find the association between Blood Pressure, BMI and WHR of premenopausal and post-menopausal women. Results: Postmenopausal women had higher BMI, (p<0.05), had a higher waist and hip circumference (p<0.05) as compared with the pre-menopausal women; p<0.05. When compared with WHR, the result shows that there is no significance difference between pre- menopausal and post-menopausal; p>0.05. Blood pressure is elevated among postmenopausal women when compared with Pre -menopausal women p<0.01. Conclusion: These findings suggest that obesity has significant impact on Blood Pressure and obese post menopausal women are at increased risk of developing Cardio vascular complications when compared with pre-menopausal women.

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