Childhood hypertension and family history of hypertension in primary school children in Port Harcourt

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relationship between childhood hypertension and family history of hypertension in primary school children in Port Harcourt.
Methods: A stratified multi-staged sampling technique was used to
recruit pupils between 6-12 years of age, from thirteen primary schools
located in three school districts. Data was collected using a pretested
questionnaire completed by parents / guardians. The average of three blood pressure measurements, weight and height were taken for each pupil, using standardized techniques. Hypertension was defined as average systolic and / or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal
to the 95th percentile for age, gender and height using the standard blood
pressure charts. Family history of hypertension was defined as either
parent indicating on the submitted questionnaire that they were hypertensive (diagnosed by a physician and/or on antihypertensive drugs)
or had a family history of hypertension.
Results: A total of 1302 pupils with 717 (55.1%) females and 585
(44.9%) males were studied, giving a female to male ratio of 1.2:1. The
mean age of pupils studied was 8.82±1.91 years. Sixty one (4.7%)
of the pupils examined had hypertension. Of the 1302 pupils, 316
(24.3%) had a family history of hypertension. The mean systolic
(p<0.001) and diastolic (p=0.220) blood pressures were higher in children
with a family history of hypertension than in those without. Of
the pupils that had a family history of hypertension, 7.9% had  hypertension, while 3.7% of those that did not have a family history, were
found to be hypertensive (p=0.001).
Conclusion: A family history of hypertension was associated with a higher prevalence of childhood hypertension than was seen in children without a family history of hypertension.

Key words: Childhood Hypertension, Family history.