Neck circumference, visceral adiposity index andassociation of lipid accumulati̇on product index with prehypertension

Objective: Neck circumference is a new anthropometric measurement that is associated with many cardiovascular, metabolic and endocrine pathologies independent of the classical anthropometric measurements of waist circumference, hip circumference and waist-to-hip ratio. Although there are examples in the world, studies on this new measurement are limited in our country. The visceral adiposity index (VAI) is a formulation that uses both laboratory and anthropometric measurements together to indicate adipose tissue dysfunction. The lipid accumulation product index (LAP) is an index calculated using waist circumference and blood triglyceride levels that associates obesity with excessive accumulation of lipids rather than just weight gain. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of neck circumference, visceral adiposity index and lipid accumulation product index with prehypertension. Materials and Methods: This study included 528 patients aged 18-45 years who applied to Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Medicine, Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic. The sociodemographic data of the patients who met the study criteria were recorded in the questionnaire form. Neck, waist and hip circumferences, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured and recorded. Fasting blood glucose and blood lipid profile values were recorded from patient records. The findings were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows) 20.0 program. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the participants, 56.6% (n=299) were female, 32.7% (n=173) were between the ages of 18-24, 36.4% (n=192) were between the ages of 25-34, and 30.9% (n=163) were between the ages of 35-45. When the participants were analyzed according to blood pressure values, 67.8% were normotensive (n=358), 17.2% were prehypertensive (n=91), and 15% were hypertensive (n=79). Neck circumference and systolic blood pressure were positively correlated in men (r=0.272 and p<0.001) and women (r=258 and p<0.001). The mean neck circumference was 36.7 cm in normotensive subjects and 37,7 cm in prehypertensive subjects, with a significant difference (p=0.034). The mean VAI was 2,2 in normotensive subjects and 2,3 in prehypertensive subjects and there was no significant difference between them (p=0.06). The mean LAP index was 43,2 in normotensives, 53,6 in prehypertensives and 71,2 in hypertensives. There was no significant difference between the normotensive and prehypertensive groups, but the difference between the hypertensive and normotensive groups was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: In the present study, VAI and LAP index were not associated with prehypertension, whereas neck circumference was associated with prehypertension. According to the results of this study, neck circumference may be used as a new anthropometric measurement to predict prehypertension. In addition, neck circumference, VAI and LAP index are three interrelated parameters. Key words: Prehypertension, Neck Circumference, Visceral Adiposity Index, Lipid Accumulation Product Index