Association between Body Mass Index and Left Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity in Young Adult Females: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a validated, non-invasive index of arterial stiffness, and obesity, commonly assessed using body mass index (BMI), is a recognised determinant of vascular stiffening and cardiovascular risk. Data describing this relationship in young, apparently healthy women from India remain limited.

Objective: To assess the association between BMI and left brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (L-baPWV) in young adult females.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 healthy female students aged 18-25 years in the Department of Physiology, BPS Government Medical College for Women, Khanpur Kalan, Sonepat. Anthropometric parameters were recorded and BMI was calculated. L-baPWV was measured by a non-invasive periscope and categorised as ≤ 1056 cm/s and ≥ 1057 cm/s. The Chi-square test was used to test the association between BMI category and L-baPWV category.

Results: The mean age of participants was 21.33 ± 1.81 years and mean BMI was 22.20 ± 3.68 kg/m². Of the 200 participants, 28 (14%) were underweight, 127 (63.5%) had a normal BMI and 45 (22.5%) were overweight. Elevated L-baPWV (≥ 1057 cm/s) was present in 60.71% of underweight participants compared with 30.71% of those with normal BMI and 28.89% of overweight participants. This association between BMI and L-baPWV was statistically significant (χ2 = 9.950, df = 2, p = 0.007).

Conclusion: A significant association was found between BMI and left brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, with a higher proportion of underweight young women showing increased peripheral arterial stiffness. BMI, at both extremes, deserves attention as a correlate of early vascular changes even in apparently healthy young women.