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Blood pressure and related cardiovascular disease risk factors in 6–18 year‐old students in Italy
Author(s) -
Pileggi Claudia,
Carbone Vincenzo,
Nobile Carmelo GA,
Pavia Maria
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2005.00629.x
Subject(s) - medicine , blood pressure , body mass index , obesity , family history , population , diastole , pediatrics , disease , demography , physical therapy , gerontology , environmental health , sociology
Objectives: The aims of this study were to provide data on blood pressure (BP) levels, to measure prevalence of high‐normal or high BP and to identify a set of conditions that may predict high BP (HBP) in a population of children and adolescents in Italy. Methods: A random sample of students 6–18 years old attending randomly selected schools in Catanzaro, Italy, was recruited. All students completed a questionnaire on their health and on health behaviours, such as physical activity, diet, drinking and smoking. Blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Results: Of the 603 subjects examined, 12.8% had high‐normal BP, 3.5% hypertension (HTN) and 11.1% were obese. High‐normal or high diastolic BP (DBP) was significantly more likely in older subjects with a higher BMI, in those with a smoker mother and in preterm children, whereas high‐normal or high systolic BP (SBP) was significantly more likely to be found in older subjects with a higher BMI and in those who had at least one parent with HTN. High‐normal or high DBP or SBP were significantly predicted by BMI and age. Conclusions: Interventions should focus at reducing obesity and encouraging proper dietary habits, sufficient exercise and cessation of smoking habit in parents too, especially in children with a family history of HTN.