title: [Prevalence of hypertension in Portuguese adolescents in Lisbon, Portugal].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of pre-hypertension (pre-HTN) and hypertension (HTN) in Portuguese adolescents in Lisbon and to ascertain the relationship between blood pressure (BP) levels and the risk factors of gender, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise and family history of HTN.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study in a non-randomized sample of 234 adolescents of both sexes, aged between 16 and 19 years. Information on habits and family history of HTN was obtained through a self-completed structured questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 234 adolescents, mean age 16.4±0.9 years, 57% male. The prevalence of HTN was 34%, higher in males (44% vs. 21%, p=0.001) and 12% of pre-HTN, higher in females (13% vs. 10%, p=0.001). Higher body mass index was associated with significantly higher prevalence of pre-HTN (normal weight 9.40%, overweight 16.10%, and obesity 22.70%) and HTN (normal weight 30.4%, overweight 45.2%, and obesity 45.5%). With a family history of HTN, the prevalence of HTN and pre-HTN was approximately double (41% vs. 28% and 18% vs. 9%, respectively). Regular exercise, smoking and alcohol consumption were not significantly associated with BP values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of pre-HTN and HTN in the sample studied was high. Of the risk factors evaluated, only gender, obesity and family history of HTN were significantly associated with BP values.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal. dojreis@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Doroteia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.forename: Vilma
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Leonel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ricardo
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Almeida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult