Prevalence of Childhood Hypertension and Association between Hypertension and Obesity in Secondary School Students

Abstract

Prevalence of Childhood Hypertension and Association between Hypertension and Obesity in Secondary School Students

Yupaporn Amornchaicharoensuk MD

Department of Pediatrics, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and association between hypertension and obesity in secondary school students.

Study design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Subjects: A total of 355 secondary school students of Watsungwej school, studied from August 2008-April 2009.

Methods: Data of sex, age, class, body weight, height, and blood pressure were collected and analyzed.

Main outcome measures: blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), body weight, height

Results: Mean age of the subjects was 16.0 + 1.8 years. One hundred and four students (29.3%) were male and 251 (70.7%) were female. Prevalence of hypertension was 3.7%. Factors statistically significant different between hypertensive children and normotensive children were body weight (median 67.5 and 50.0 kg) and body mass index (median 23.3 and 19.6 kg/m²). Prevalence of hypertension in high body mass index (BMI > 85 percentile) children was 13.9%, which was statistically significant higher than 1.1% in normal body mass index children (BMI < 85 percentile). Prevalence ratio of hypertension in high body mass index when compared to normal body mass index children was 12.6.

Conclusion: Prevalence of hypertension in secondary school students was 3.7%, which was quite low. Children with high body mass index had significant higher risk of hypertension compared to children with normal body mass index.

Key words: hypertension, obesity, high body mass index, children, secondary school students

Vajira Med J 2009 ; 54 : 19 - 24