Association between body fat percentage and elevated mean arterial pressure in Peruvian adults: an analytical study

Guevara-Tirado A. · Revista Facultad de Medicina (2026) · DOI: 10.15446/revfacmed.v74.118415

Resumen

Introduction: Excess body fat is an independent risk factor for high blood pressure. However, this relationship has been scarcely explored in large population groups. Objective: To evaluate the association between body fat percentage (BF%) and elevated mean arterial pressure (MAP) in Peruvian adults. Materials and methods: Analytical, cross-sectional study based on data from 28 611 Peruvian adults who participated in the Encuesta Nacional Demográfica De Salud Familiar-2022 (National Demographic and Family Health Survey 2022). To evaluate the association between BF% and elevated MAP, a bivariate analysis (chi-square test with Cramer's V and odds ratio [OR] calculation) and a multivariate analysis (binary linear logistic regression model with backward elimination) were performed. The correlation between BF% and MAP (Spearman’s correlation coefficient) was also evaluated. Results: Of the 28 611 records included, 57.40% were women and 56.18% had a high BF%. The average MAP was significantly higher in individuals with a high BF% in both women (88.37 vs. 80.27) and men (95.51 vs. 87.01). In the bivariate analysis, having a high BF% was significantly associated with a higher probability of elevated MAP in women (OR=4.897; p<0.001, V=0.294) and men (OR=4.064; p<0.001, V=0.336). In the multivariate analysis, having a high BF% increased the probability of having high BP by 2.6 (OR=2.65; p<0.001) and 2.15 (OR=2.150; p<0.001) times in men and women, respectively. The correlation between BF% and MAP was moderate in women (Rho=0.464) and men (Rho=0.441). Conclusions: BF% was independently associated with a higher probability of elevated MAP in Peruvian adults.

Instituciones: Universidad Científica del Sur