Abstract
Objective: To Study the prevalence of Prehypertension & Hypertension and the relationship of Blood Pressure with variables like Age, Sex, Weight, Height, Body Mass Index (BMI), Socioeconomic status and Family history in Urban school children.
Design: Cross sectional study.
Participants: 2500 children in the age group of 5 - 14 years, selected by systematic random sampling during March 2008 - June 2009.
Results:
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a) The Prevalence of Hypertension among children between 5 - 14 years was 7.2 % (6.6 % in Boys & 7.9 % in girls)
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b) The Prevalence of Pre-hypertension was 4.7 % and was found to be twice in Boys (6.2%) as compared to that in Girls (3 %).
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c) Multiple Regression Analysis showed Positive and significant correlation of age, weight, height with each SBP and DBP (P value < 0.001)
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d) Mean SBP and DBP in obesity & overweight group were significantly higher than those in normal weight group (P < 0.0001).
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e) Children with positive Family history of Hypertension has significantly higher mean SBP & DBP than in children with normotensive parents (P value < 0.001)
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f) Higher the grades of Socio economic status, higher are the mean SBP & DBP. (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Regular Blood pressure measurement of children is mandatory for early detection of Pre hypertension & Hypertension. High Body mass index & Positive Family history of Hypertension forms an important indicator of childhood hypertension and appropriate therapeutic life style changes should be initiated to prevent Hypertension & its complications.
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Kumar, P. 606 “Biophysical Profile of Blood Pressure in Urban School Children of South India”. Pediatr Res 68 (Suppl 1), 310–311 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00606
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00606