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Horm Metab Res 2019; 51(08): 495-502
DOI: 10.1055/a-0957-3256
Endocrine Care
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Association Between Neck Circumference and Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Sajjad Moradi
1   Halal Research Center of IRI, FDA, Tehran, Iran
2   Nutritional Sciences Department, School of Nutritional Sciences and Food Technology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
,
Hamed Mohammadi
3   Students’ Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
,
Aftab Javaheri
4   Food Science, Technology and Business, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Technology Campus Ghent, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
,
Abed Ghavami
5   Students’ Research Committee, Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
,
Mohammad Hossein Rouhani
6   Food Security Research Center and Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 14 August 2018

accepted 06 June 2019

Publication Date:
13 August 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Neck circumference (NC) has been suggested as a predictor for blood pressure disorders. Therefore, we sought to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis regarding the association between NC and blood pressure in adults. Pertinent studies were identified by searching PubMed and Scopus databases, up to March 2018. Studies which reported the correlation coefficient between NC, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were selected. Also, studies reported the odds ratio (OR) of hypertension or pre-hypertension included adults older than 18 years old were selected. Results were pooled using a random-effects model. Of 29 studies included in meta-analysis, 26 studies reported only correlation coefficient, 3 studies reported only odds ratio and 2 studies reported both correlation coefficient and odds ratio. Overall, NC was significantly correlated with SBP [ES (z)=0.20; 95% CI=0.18, 0.23] and DBP [ES (z)=0.20; 95% CI=0.16, 0.24]. Type of correlation coefficient was the sources of observed heterogeneity. Also, NC was directly associated with the risk of hypertension (OR=1.29; 95% CI: 1.06–1.56), but not pre-hypertension (OR=1.18; 95% CI: 0.92, 1.52). Furthermore, subgroup analysis based on the region indicated that the studies conducted in Western regions reported higher risk of HTN in association with NC (OR=1.27; 95% CI: 1.23–1.32), but not among those conducted in the Eastern regions (OR=1.11; 95% CI: 0.96–1.28). NC seems to be a new anthropometric measurement, which is probably a good predictor of elevated blood pressure, especially in the Western population.

Key words

neck circumference - blood pressure - hypertension - meta-analysis

Supplementary Material

 

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