Effectiveness of Body Roundness Index (BRI) and a Body Shape Index (ABSI) in Predicting Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Abstract

Introduction: The body roundness index (BRI) and a body shape index (ABSI) are novel anthropometric indices established to determine both the amount visceral adipose tissue and body fat. Objective: to investigate whether BRI and ABSI are better predictors of hypertension than body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) or waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science databases up until 31 December 2020. Results: The estimated pooled area under curve [AUC (95% CI)] for BRI [0.67 (0.65–0.70)] for the prediction of hypertension were superior to that of ABSI (0.58 (0.56–0.60)), similar to that of BMI [0.67 (0.64–0.69)], and lower than those WC [0.68 (0.66–0.70)] and WHtR [0.68 (0.66–0.71)]. Nevertheless, the difference of BRI compared to WC and WHtR in the context of predicting hypertension was non-significant. ABSI was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than BRI, BMI, WC and WHtR. Similar findings were observed with the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-SROC). There were no significant differences between subgroups according to type of population or diagnostic criteria of hypertension. The diagnostic odds ratio (dORs) proved that increased BRI and ABSI were related with an elevated hypertension risk. Conclusions: BRI and ABSI have discriminatory power for hypertension in adult women and men from different populations. Although, WHtR and WC provided the best performance when assessing hypertension, no significant differences were found for BRI. Finally, BRI was significantly better predictor of hypertension than ABSI.

Body Roundness Index and Waist–Hip Ratio Result in Better Cardiovascular Disease Risk Stratification: Results From a Large Chinese Cross-Sectional Study

“…However, Chang's results demonstrated that the BRI did not show superior power compared to WC or the WHtR for the prediction of DM (39). A meta-analysis indicated that WC and WHtR offer the best performance when screening for MetS and hypertension, but nonsignificant differences were found with BRI (17,18). Maessen MF et al found that the BRI could identify CVD and CVDRFs, but was not superior to BMI or WC (51).…”

“…Previous studies indicated that BRI is a good predictor of metabolic syndrome in both sexes in populations of various nationalities and ethnic groups, including the Chinese population (17). BRI and ABSI have a discriminatory power for hypertension in adult women and men from different populations, although BRI was a significantly better predictor of hypertension than ABSI (18). Unfortunately, until now, the best indicator of these diseases has remained unclear, especially in the Chinese population.…”

Body mass index is superior to other body adiposity indexes in predicting incident hypertension in a highly admixed sample after 10‐year follow‐up: The Baependi Heart Study

“…17,28,29,39,40 Hypertension seems to be the most common obesity-related health problem and visceral obesity seems to be the major associated factor. [12][13][14][15]29 activity, in addition to parental premature hypertension). Furthermore, the rate of change in BMI increased the risk of incident hypertension in a dose-response fashion.…”

“…Body adiposity indexes other than BMI, such as Body Adiposity Index (BAI), Body Roundness Index (BRI), Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI), Waist Circumference (WC), Waist‐to‐Height Ratio (WtHR), Waist‐to‐Hip Ratio (WHR), have been related to increase of blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension. 12 , 13 , 14 The rise in blood pressure associated with increased body adiposity indexes is thought to be related to the accumulation of visceral adipose tissue and adipokine levels, that cause release of inflammatory cytokines, increased oxidative stress, sympathetic dysregulation, and metabolic disorders. 8 , 9 , 15 , 16 …”

Association of body mass index and waist circumference with type 2 diabetes mellitus in older adults: a cross-sectional study

“…The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to compare the predictive ability of WC, BMI and other anthropometric indicators for T2DM, including WHtR, BAE and BRI. These indicators have recently been used to study cardiovascular disease, hypertension, mortality and so on [ 14 , 15 ], so we calculated and analyzed these indicators and compared these indicators with BMI and WC.…”