<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_sjph-2018-0010_s_006_w2aab3b7b4b1b6b1aab1c18b1Aa"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of prehypertensive and elevated blood pressure in the hypertensive range (elevated BP) and obtain some anthropometric measures in Slovene children and adolescents.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2018-0010_s_007_w2aab3b7b4b1b6b1aab1c18b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>In the cross-sectional study lasting one year, we measured BP using mercury sphygmomanometers, as well as height, weight, waist, and hip circumferences in schools. Data from regular check-ups (oscillometric measurements) were also added to increase the sample size. Participants were 2-19 years old. For statistical analysis, we used two-sided multivariate analysis of variance, Pearson’s r, and chi-squared test.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2018-0010_s_008_w2aab3b7b4b1b6b1aab1c18b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>From altogether 1594 participants, 723 (45.4%) were boys and 871 (54.6%) girls. The prevalence of elevated BP on a single oscillometric blood-pressure measurement was 12.0% (95% CI: 10.3 to 13.9), and an additional 13.9% (95% CI: 12.0 to 15.9) had prehypertensive BP. In Riva-Rocci measurements, elevated BP was present in only 7.1% (95% CI: 4.9 to 10.1) and prehypertensive BP additionally in 3.9% (95% CI: 2.4 to 6.4) in comparison to oscillometric measurements, which showed higher prevalence. Importantly, overweight participants had a 1.75 times greater relative risk for prehypertensive BP (95% CI: 1.22 to 2.53; p&lt;0.01). Obesity carried a 1.79 times greater relative risk (95% CI: 1.22 to 2.63; p&lt;0.01) for BP outside of the normotensive BP range.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2018-0010_s_009_w2aab3b7b4b1b6b1aab1c18b4Aa"><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Arterial hypertension is becoming an important public health problem, especially due to the childhood obesity. It seems to concern also Slovene young population with prevalence of elevated BP at around 7.1% after a single auscultatory BP measurement.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionThe aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of prehypertensive and elevated blood pressure in the hypertensive range (elevated BP) and obtain some anthropometric measures in Slovene children and adolescents.MethodsIn the cross-sectional study lasting one year, we measured BP using mercury sphygmomanometers, as well as height, weight, waist, and hip circumferences in schools. Data from regular check-ups (oscillometric measurements) were also added to increase the sample size. Participants were 2-19 years old. For statistical analysis, we used two-sided multivariate analysis of variance, Pearson’s r, and chi-squared test.ResultsFrom altogether 1594 participants, 723 (45.4%) were boys and 871 (54.6%) girls. The prevalence of elevated BP on a single oscillometric blood-pressure measurement was 12.0% (95% CI: 10.3 to 13.9), and an additional 13.9% (95% CI: 12.0 to 15.9) had prehypertensive BP. In Riva-Rocci measurements, elevated BP was present in only 7.1% (95% CI: 4.9 to 10.1) and prehypertensive BP additionally in 3.9% (95% CI: 2.4 to 6.4) in comparison to oscillometric measurements, which showed higher prevalence. Importantly, overweight participants had a 1.75 times greater relative risk for prehypertensive BP (95% CI: 1.22 to 2.53; p<0.01). Obesity carried a 1.79 times greater relative risk (95% CI: 1.22 to 2.63; p<0.01) for BP outside of the normotensive BP range.ConclusionArterial hypertension is becoming an important public health problem, especially due to the childhood obesity. It seems to concern also Slovene young population with prevalence of elevated BP at around 7.1% after a single auscultatory BP measurement.

The prevalence of elevated blood pressure in a sample of slovene children and adolescents: a pilot study

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

PREVALENCA VISOKEGA KRVNEGA TLAKA NA VZORCU SLOVENSKIH OTROK IN MLADOSTNIKOV: PILOTNA ŠTUDIJA

IntroductionThe aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of prehypertensive and elevated blood pressure in the hypertensive range (elevated BP) and...

The prevalence of elevated blood pressure in a sample of slovene children and adolescents: a pilot study

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Apr 12, 2018

Page range: 72 - 80

Received: Nov 19, 2016

Accepted: Jan 18, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2018-0010

Keywords
hypertension, prevalence, children, adolescents, Slovenia, antropometrics

© 2018 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The prevalence of elevated blood pressure in a sample of slovene children and adolescents: a pilot study

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Apr 12, 2018

Page range: 72 - 80

Received: Nov 19, 2016

Accepted: Jan 18, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2018-0010

Keywordshypertension, prevalence, children, adolescents, Slovenia, antropometrics

© 2018 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
hypertension, prevalence, children, adolescents, Slovenia, antropometrics