title: [Correlations between blood pressure values, familial hypertension and anthropometric parameters in a sample of 3-year-old children].
abstract: Nowadays evaluation of blood pressure in children is almost routine. In fact hypertension in adults may be preceded by high blood pressure values in childhood. In this study the authors examined systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), height, weight, ponderosity index and family history of hypertension, in 261 3-year-old children, 139 boys and 122 girls. Average values of SBP were slightly but not significantly higher in males. Coefficients of linear regression and correlation for any pair of the different parameters (SBP-DBP and weight, SBP-DBP and height, SBP-DPB and ponderosity index) were all significantly positive for males, but not for females. The most significant value (r = 0.43) was in the correlation DBP-weight. In studying the family history of hypertension all children were divided into three groups: negative (F.I.-), positive with brothers and/or parents affected (F.I. I+) and positive with other relatives affected (F.I. II+). Average SBP and DPB in the second group were higher than in the third, and much higher than in the first group. These results suggest the importance of prevention in early childhood with alimentary education and serial blood pressure measurements. The individuation of borderline values is also very important.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Pediatrica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Currò
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giusti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bracaglia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buffetti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pelargonio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Polidori
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors
vernacular_title: Correlazione tra valori di pressione arteriosa, familiarità ipertensiva e parametri antropometrici in un campione di bambini di tre anni.