Main Article Content
Pattern of Blood Pressure in Adolescents
Abstract
Background: Out of office blood pressure has been shown to be a better representation of an individual’s blood pressure. This prospective school-based study was designed to investigate the normal range of out of office blood pressure and its associated factors in adolescents.
Methods: A total of 718 adolescents (309 males and 409 females) were recruited and their blood pressures taken 6 times over 2 days. The prevalence of hypertension and the relationship between blood pressure level and height, body mass index, age and socio-economic status were determined. Results: The mean systolic blood pressures for males and females were 109.5 ± 13.9, and 112.2 ± 13.0 mmHg, respectively [p=0.01], while the mean diastolic pressures were 71.4 ± 9.2 and 74.19 ± 9.6 mmHg for the males and females, respectively [p<0.001]. Both systolic and diastolic pressures increase with increase in height and BMI in both genders. Multiple linear regression analysis identified body mass index, height and socioeconomic status as independent predictors of rise in SBP. These variables, as well as age similarly predicted rise in diastolic blood pressure. Going by the definition of
hypertension of equal greater than the 95th percentile for the individual’s sex and height, prevalence rates of 3.6% and 5.1% for males and females, respectively were observed. Conclusion: These data suggest that height, BMI, weight and socioeconomic status are predictors of out of office BP in adolescents.
Methods: A total of 718 adolescents (309 males and 409 females) were recruited and their blood pressures taken 6 times over 2 days. The prevalence of hypertension and the relationship between blood pressure level and height, body mass index, age and socio-economic status were determined. Results: The mean systolic blood pressures for males and females were 109.5 ± 13.9, and 112.2 ± 13.0 mmHg, respectively [p=0.01], while the mean diastolic pressures were 71.4 ± 9.2 and 74.19 ± 9.6 mmHg for the males and females, respectively [p<0.001]. Both systolic and diastolic pressures increase with increase in height and BMI in both genders. Multiple linear regression analysis identified body mass index, height and socioeconomic status as independent predictors of rise in SBP. These variables, as well as age similarly predicted rise in diastolic blood pressure. Going by the definition of
hypertension of equal greater than the 95th percentile for the individual’s sex and height, prevalence rates of 3.6% and 5.1% for males and females, respectively were observed. Conclusion: These data suggest that height, BMI, weight and socioeconomic status are predictors of out of office BP in adolescents.
