Weight status closely associated with blood pressure and lung function among students

A recent study published in Lipids in Health and Disease has concluded that BMI has a strong positive correlation with both BP and vital capacity and a negative correlation with VCI. The team highlighted weight control is recommended to combat diseases related to obesity, like cardiopulmonary diseases, gout and diabetes.

The study included 843 medical students (Southern Medical University) through random cluster sampling. The height, weight, BP, and vital capacity measurements were taken. BMI and vital capacity index (VCI) were calculated for each participant. Subjects were categorized into four groups based on BMI classification. A comprehensive analysis was conducted that included correlation assessments and binomial logistic regression.

The widely reported associations between body mass index (BMI) and chronic diseases, such as high BP and asthma, have garnered significant attention. There remains to be more research dedicated to understanding the health impacts of medical school on students who experience considerable academic pressure. In that context, this study was driven by the goal of investigating the intricate interplay between BMI, blood pressure (BP), and vital capacity among medical students.

Key results of the study are:

• 9.4% and 3.8% of participants were classified as overweight and obese, respectively.
• The prevalence of prehypertension, hypertension, and poor VCI was 18.1%, 2.7%, and 13.5%, respectively.
• Male students had a higher prevalence of the aforementioned health issues than female counterparts.
• BMI is positively associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and vital capacity.
• There was an inverse correlation emerged between BMI and VCI.
• Overweight and obese individuals faced an elevated risk of high BP than their normal-weight counterparts.
• The groups had a higher risk of poor VCI while underweight subjects experienced a reduced risk.

Study strength includes large sample size, standardized protocols to measure parameters and measurement accuracy.

They said that weight status is closely associated with blood pressure and lung function among medical college students. Preventing overweight and obesity in college students may be an effective method to avoid the future development of hypertension and decline in lung function, similar to the daily health care of patients.

Reference:

Song, L., Li, J., Yu, S. et al. Body Mass Index is Associated with blood pressure and vital capacity in medical students. Lipids Health Dis 22, 174 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12944-023-01920-1