CORRELATION BETWEEN ANTHROPOMETRY AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN CHILDREN.

Introduction: Although a positive correlation has been shown to exist between blood pressure (BP) and anthropometry, conflicting reports have been documented about the anthropometric parameter that best determines increased blood pressure (BP) in children. Whereas waist circumference (WC) has been shown to correlate with BP in adults due to disproportionate fat distribution, the uniform fat distribution in children may alter this relationship established in the adult population. Objective: Correlation between anthropometric parameters and BP in children. Methodology: A cross-sectional study of BP where 1350 apparently healthy secondary school adolescents aged 10-19 years were recruited over 6 months. The BP, height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and WC were taken and analysed. Results: The mean weight of the students was 48.6±10.9kg with a range of 23-100kg, while height was 1.6±0.1m and ranged from 1.2-1.9m. The mean WC was 65.6±8.9cm and ranged from 22-100cm while the mean BMI was 18.9±3.1kg/m2. The overall mean systolic BP was 108.9±12.5mmHg with a range of 76-165mmHg while diastolic BP was 68.3±8.2mmHg and ranged from 47-95mmHg. The BP correlated positively with height with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure coefficients being 0.44 and 0.34 (r=0.44 & 0.34; p<0.001), correlated with weight with SDB and DBP coefficients (r=0.51 & 0.38; p<0.001), correlated with BMI (r= 0.40 & 0.29; p<0.001) and with WC (r= 0.31 & 0.23; p<0.001). Conclusion: SBP showed a stronger correlation with the anthropometries than the DBP in children. The weight has the highest correlation while the WC has the lowest correlation with BP in children.

GENDER VARIATION IN THE PREVALENCE OF CHILDHOOD HYPERTENSION.

Introduction: Hypertension is an important health problem all over the world. It is usually silent and the presence of symptoms may indicate end-organ damage. Whereas some studies reported a higher blood pressure (BP) in girls than boys at all ages other studies reported no sex differences while others demonstrated an initial higher BP in boys before puberty with reversal at puberty. Objective: Variation in prevalence of hypertension according to gender. Methodology: A cross-sectional study of BP that recruited 1350 apparently healthy secondary school adolescents aged 10-19 years over 6 months. Results: The overall point prevalence of hypertension was 4.4% (59 of 1350) with gender-specific prevalence for males being 4.1% (26 of 628 boys) and 4.6% (33 of 722 girls) for females, (χ 2=0.831, p=0.362). According to stages of hypertension, 1.5% (10 of 628) and 1.1% (7 of 628) males had stages 1 and 2 systolic hypertension respectively while 2.4% (15 of 628) had stage 1 diastolic hypertension and none had stage 2. Similarly, 2.4% (17 of 722) and 1.2% (9 of 722) females had stages 1 and 2 systolic hypertension respectively while 1.2% (9 of 722) and only 0.1% (1 of 722) girls had stages 1 and 2 diastolic hypertension respectively. The overall prevalence of pre-hypertension was 22.1% (298 of 1350) with gender-specific prevalence of 21% (131 of 628) for males and 23.1% (167 of 722) for females, (χ 2=4.349, p=0.037). Conclusion: Female adolescents have a higher prevalence of hypertension, especially pre-hypertension, compared with males. The BP screening is recommended at secondary school entry and at regular intervals.