Essential hypertension in early and mid-adolescence.
OBJECTIVE
To detect prevalence of essential hypertension in early and mid adolescents and to identify various risk factors.


METHODS
Blood pressure was recorded in 503 apparently normal school students in 10 to 16 yr age group as per standard guidelines. Detailed clinical examination was done in all cases. A detailed questionnaire was sent to parents.


RESULTS
6.16% of adolescents had high blood pressure at the end of fourth screening. Both systolic and diastolic hypertensions were documented. Increased body mass index and reduced consumption of vegetables and fruits were found to be statistically significant risk factors for hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
Multiple blood pressure recordings are essential for accurate diagnosis of hypertension. There is a high prevalence of essential hypertension amongst adolescents in Mysore city with modifiable risk factors for hypertension.
Department of Pediatrics, Government Medical College, Mysore, India. drsavithamr@yahoo.com
M R
MR
Savitha
B
B
Krishnamurthy
Sudhindra Shayana R
SS
Fatthepur
A M
AM
Yashwanth Kumar
Mudassir Azeez
MA
Khan
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires