title: Blood pressure relation to body composition and age: analysis of a nurse-led investigation and consultation program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blood pressure (BP) increases with age and obesity. We have assessed the relative contribution of age and fatness to BP regulation in a healthy population investigated by nurse practitioners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preventive investigation and counseling was offered at the entrance hall of the regional authority´s office in the town of Nitra by 2 nursing specialists who investigated 120 men and 276 women. In men the mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.8 kg/m2, mean weight was 84.4 kg, mean fat percentage was 23.3, mean age was 46.1 years, mean systolic BP was 133.1 mmHg, and mean diastolic BP was 82.5 mmHg. In women the mean BMI was 24.8 kg/m2, mean weight was 67.3 kg, mean fat percentage was 29.4, mean age was 45.4 years, mean systolic BP was 127.7 mmHg, and mean diastolic BP was 78.5 mmHg. Correlation analysis was performed and in multiple regression analysis we used BP values as the dependent variable and fat percentage and age as independent variables. Normality of variables distribution was checked and found satisfactorily.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the subjects had an untreated component of metabolic syndrome. There was a correlation between BP values, age, and percent body fat. BP was regulated only to a certain degree by fatness and age, with the influence being relatively small. Our results showed that BP was more influenced by fatness than age, and body fatness was more related to higher systolic than to diastolic BP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age and fatness could explain BP values by only 3-30%, although BP was more influenced by fatness than by age. Nurse practitioners can effectively detect and motivate people with metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Constantine the Philosopher University, Faculty of Social Sciences and Health Care Nitra, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Mária
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boledovičová
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hendl
authors.forename: Lubica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lišková
authors.forename: Alica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Slamková
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matoulek
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stránská
authors.forename: Štěpán
authors.initials: Š
authors.lastname: Svačina
authors.forename: Miloš
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Velemínský
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results