[Evaluation of risk factors associated with increased blood pressure in children].
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors associated with increased arterial blood pressure in children.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, arterial blood pressure was measured in 672 children between 2 and 11 years of age from two schools in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. After providing informed consent, all children had their blood pressure and anthropometric parameters measured. Blood pressure was measured based on the recommendations of the Update on the 1987 Task Force Report on High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents. The following variables were assessed: age, sex, race, urban life quality index, weight, height, and body mass index. Analysis of variance was used for comparison of means and the chi-square was used for comparison of proportions. Variables associated with increased blood pressure were included in a multiple regression model.


RESULTS
According to univariate analysis, increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure were associated with high urban life quality index, white race and high body mass index. On multivariate analysis, body mass index, urban life quality index and height remained associated with increased systolic blood pressure; urban life quality index and age were associated with increased diastolic blood pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, excess weight and obesity were associated with increased systolic blood pressure. Other unidentified factors were partially associated with increased blood pressure in children from the school with elevated urban life quality index.
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Frederico D
FD
Garcia
Aleyson F
AF
Terra
Anderson M
AM
Queiroz
Cristiano A
CA
Correia
Priscila S
PS
Ramos
Quésia T
QT
Ferreira
Regina L
RL
Rocha
Eduardo A
EA
Oliveira
D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044383:Black People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People