INVESTIGATING THE CORRELATION BETWEEN PACKED CELL VOLUME AND BODY MASS INDEX AMONG STUDENTS OF KADUNA STATE UNIVERSITY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Packed cell volume (PCV) is an important haematological parameter that reflects the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood. At the same time, body mass index (BMI) is widely used to assess nutritional status and body weight. Both indicators are essential for evaluating overall health, particularly among young adults who may face nutritional challenges, infections, and lifestyle-related risks. This study investigated the relationship between PCV and BMI among undergraduate students of Kaduna State University (KASU) main campus. The study adopted a cross-sectional design involving 100 apparently healthy students (50 males and 50 females). PCV was determined using the microhaematocrit method, while BMI was calculated from measured height and weight. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25, and Pearson correlation was used to assess the relationship between BMI and PCV at p ≤ 0.05. Low PCV was observed in 31.0% of participants, indicating a substantial proportion at risk of anemia, with similar distribution between males (32.0%) and females (30.0%). Regarding BMI, 61.0% of students were of normal weight, 27.0% were underweight, and 12.0% were overweight or obese. A weak but statistically significant positive correlation was observed between BMI and PCV in the overall sample (r = 0.233, p = 0.019), whereas sex-specific analysis showed no significant relationship. The study concludes that although BMI is associated with PCV, the relationship is weak and inconsistent across subgroups, indicating that BMI alone is not a reliable predictor of haematological status. Therefore, routine haematological screening in addition to anthropometric assessment is recommended for early detection of blood-related disorders among students.