Influence of age, body mass index and waist-hip ratio on the human spine; a radiographic study of adult male subjects in Port Harcourt-Nigeria

Micheal Omonnkheoa Oyakhire 1, Loveday Ese Oghenemavwe 1, * and Chukuemeka Emmanuel Agi 2

1 Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt.
2 Department of Radiology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.
 
Research Article
World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2021, 08(02), 001–007.
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjbphs.2021.8.2.0110
Publication history: 
Received on 06 October 2021; revised on 01 November 2021; accepted on 03 November 2021
 
Abstract: 
The study determined the Lumbosacral angle (LSA) of male subjects and evaluated its relationship to age, BMI and Waist -Hip ratio. Lateral radiographs of one hundred and forty-two informed healthy male volunteers between the age of 18-60 were studied using Ferguson’s method, and analyzed with respect to age, waist hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI).. The result showed the average value for Lumbosacral angle was 34.060 ± 0.560, the body weight was 70.34 ± 1.02Kg, and BMI was 24. 64 ± 0.38Kgm-2. Angle values were observed to increase with age up to 32years, followed by a sinusoidal increase and decrease pattern thereafter. Significant correlations were observed between LSA and Body weight as well as between LSA and BMI (p<0.05). The Lumbosacral angle of males in Port-Harcourt, South South Nigeria is within the range of literature derived measurement values world-wide, but lower than the average reported from previous studies on other Nigerian populations.
 
Keywords: 
Lumbosacral angle; BMI; Waist to Hip ratio; Ferguson’s method; Port Harcourt; Spine
 
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