title: Prevalence and risk factors of hypertension based on repeated measurements in Chinese children and adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypertension from repeated blood pressure (BP) measurements, and examine the association between hypertension and obesity, as well as other related risk factors, in a Chinese pediatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 6692 children, aged 3-18 years, were recruited in 2010. Anthropometric measurements and BP were measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer. Those with an elevated BP were screened a second or third time at 2-week intervals. "Hypertension" was defined as elevated BP on all three occasions. A self-administered questionnaire was completed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of an elevated BP was 18.2%, 5.1% and 3.1% on the first, second and third visits, respectively. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for an elevated BP among obese children were 7.07 (5.94-8.42), 17.23 (12.63-23.52) and 20.63 (13.69-31.09), and among those with a paternal history of hypertension were 1.26 (0.98-1.61), 1.35 (0.90-2.02) and 1.80 (1.15-2.81) on each consecutive visit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeated measurements are required to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension in children and that obesity and paternal hypertension are strongly associated with pediatric hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Linghui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Yajun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Junting
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuehua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yinkun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D040941:Heredity; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires