title: Assessment of social and economic influences on blood pressure of adolescents in public and private schools: an epidemiological study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The high prevalence of hypertension in high school students in Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil, has already been described. In this study, within a new sample of high school students from public and private schools, we evaluated if socioeconomic and lifestyle influence on blood pressure values.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an epidemiological study, which is part of the activities of a community-based work conducted by medical students. They give speeches to high school students aiming at stimulating a healthy lifestyle and primary prevention of hypertension. In a random sample of 410 students in junior high school (209 from public schools and 201 from private schools), we determined the weight, height, and blood pressure, furthermore, a questionnaire identifying epidemiological and socioeconomic status was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistical differences were found among students from public and private schools regarding the distribution of gender, body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, prevalence of hypertension (16.3%), percentage of smokers (5.9%), regular physical activity, and family history of hypertension. In public schools, there is a higher percentage of African descendents students and a higher percentage of students who also work due to low family income. Men from public and private schools have higher prevalence of hypertension, and their mean blood pressure is higher than in women. BMI has a positive correlation with systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors have an early beginning and require educational interventions for primary prevention. Socioeconomic factors do not affect blood pressure in adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Saúde of Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Cornell University Medical College, São Paulo.faalmeida@globo. com
authors.forename: Fernando Antonio
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.forename: Henrique Pinheiro
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Konigsfeld
authors.forename: Lígia Maria de Oliveira
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Andréa Farias
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Canadas
authors.forename: Evelyn Yuri Okumura
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Issa
authors.forename: Roberto Hernandes
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Ricardo Augusto de Miranda
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cadaval
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D017149:Private Sector; D017150:Public Sector; D012574:Schools; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors