The Jamaican childhood cardiovascular risk status study; blood pressure in Jamaican school children, relationship to body size and composition - abstract

ABSTRACT

Hypertension is one of the most prevalent chronic cardiovascular diseases and is the leading cause of death in the Caribbean as well as in the developed countries. Childhood blood pressure is predictive of hypertension in adulthood. Risk factors for hypertension, including body composition, are often present in childhood when they may be modified in order to contribute to primary prevention of hypertension. As part of a study of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, we measured blood pressure (BP) and anthropometry in Jamaican schoolchildren. Anthropometric and demographic variables were analysed to explain the variance of blood pressure in the children. A total of 2332 children (1046 males; 1286 females) were studied. Their ages ranged from 6 to 16 years. Boys and girls were similar in age. Mean diastolic and systolic blood pressures were similar in boys and girls' pulse rate was significantly higher than in boys. Boys had significantly greater Waist-Hip Ratio (0.82 vs 0.76; p<0.0001) and Lean Body Mass (34.2 vs 33.20 kg; p=0.006). Girls had significantly greater weight (42.3 vs 39.5; p<0.0001); Height (150.6 vs 148.9; p=0.005); BMI (18.2 vs 17.3; p<0.0001); MUAC (21.5 vs 20.8; p<0.0001); Hip Circumference (79.5 vs 73.9; p<0.0001); Triceps Skinfold (11.6 vs 8.3; p<0.0001); Per cent Body Fat (19.5 vs 11.6; p<0.0001); Fat Weight (9.1 vs 5.2; p<0.0001). Systolic BP increased steadily with age from 101 ñ 9.9 mm Hg at 6 years to 112 ñ 8.5 mm Hg at 16 years. Systolic BP was significantly correlated with weight, height, BMI, MUAC, WH Ratio, fat mass and lean body mass on univariate analysis but only weight and lean body mass were independently correlated (p<0.0001 for both variables). There was a significant age-sex interaction on Systolic BP (p<0.0001) but only at age 15 years were the mean BPs significantly different (boys vs girls = 119 ñ 15.2 vs 107.8 ñ 10.8; p<0.001). Diastolic BP increased less steeply with age. Significant predictors were MUAC and hip circumference (p<0.0001 and p<0.002, respectively). The data reveal significant correlation between anthropometric variables and blood pressure. This could provide an opportunity for intervention and primary prevention of hypertension (AU)