Abstract

AREGULLIN-ELIGIO, Enrique Oliver  and  ALCORTA-GARZA, María Cándida. Prevalence and risk factors of high blood pressure in Mexican school children in Sabinas Hidalgo. Salud pública Méx [online]. 2009, vol.51, n.1, pp.14-18. ISSN 0036-3634.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of high blood pressure (HBP) in school children 6 to 12 years of age with the accepted methodology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Elementary school children were examined (n=329). Associations between HBP, body mass index (BMI), age and gender were investigated using a cross-sectional study. Blood pressure was measured and the 95th percentile was used to determine HBP. Comparisons between children with and without HBP were made. The crude and X² Mantel-Haenszel adjusted odds ratios were used as measures of association. RESULTS: Overweight children (BMI >85th percentile) and those in the age group 11-12 years were at least four times as likely to present with HBP after controlling for confounding factors. CONCLUSION: A total of 4.9% of school children had HBP, with a higher prevalence occurring among overweight and the older group. The associations found here can be used as markers for an increased likelihood of HBP in Mexican children.

Keywords : hypertension; children; prevalence; Mexico.