Obesity and asymptomatic hypertension among children aged 6-13 years living in Bursa, Turkey.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is known that essential hypertension begins at a very early age. Recently, there have been reports of an increase in childhood hypertension, which has been attributed to an increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity. Obesity-dependent or independent asymptomatic hypertension can only be determined by random blood pressure measurements in children. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of obesity and asymptomatic hypertension among children living in Bursa, Turkey. METHODS: One thousand children living in Nilüfer district and being served by the Fethiye Bulvar Family Health Care Center were enrolled in this study. All seven family physicians working at the centre participated in the study. RESULTS: Eighty-five children (8.5%) were determined to be hypertensive. One hundred and twelve children (11.2%) were obese. Blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) increased with age, with peak prevalence of hypertension at age 12 and of obesity at age 10. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of obesity and hypertension is high among school-age children in Turkey. Family physicians should consistently perform blood pressure and BMI measurements as a part of well child visits through late childhood.