title: Evidence of underdiagnosis and markers of high blood pressure risk in children aged 6 to 13 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of high blood pressure (BP) in schoolchildren, as well as the reported frequency of previous measurements of BP in these children, and to identify high BP risk markers in the sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study involving 794 children aged 6 to 13 years, enrolled in public elementary schools. A questionnaire was given to parents/guardians, consisting of perinatal, socioeconomic data, and information on previous measurements of BP in these children. Anthropometric measurements included weight, height, waist, hip, and arm and neck circumference, in addition to the three BP measurements. Classification of BP levels was carried out according to current international recommendations, established in 2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of high BP (hypertension or prehypertension) was 7%. Only 21.7% of children had previously undergone BP measurements. The odds ratio of high BP among children with and without overweight was 2.9 (95% CI=1.7 to 5.0, p<0.001). None of the anthropometric measurements was superior to the Z-score of BMI as a predictor of high BP. History of hypertension during pregnancy (p<0.001), prematurity (p=0.006), maternal hypertension (p=0.01), and paternal hypertension (p=0.008) were also correlated with the presence of high BP in children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overweight and family history constitute the main risk markers of high BP in children. The low frequency of BP measurement in children observed in this municipality contributes to the underdiagnosis of the disease, with irreversible consequences for these individuals.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Vila Velha, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jeanne Teixeira Bessa
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Fuly
authors.affiliation: Universidade Vila Velha, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nayara Paula Bermudes
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Giovaninni
authors.affiliation: Universidade Vila Velha, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniele Gasparini
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Marcato
authors.affiliation: Universidade Vila Velha, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Roberty Badiani
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Universidade Vila Velha, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jéssica Dutra
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.affiliation: Universidade Vila Velha, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo Iezzi de
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.affiliation: Universidade Vila Velha, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thaís Coutinho
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Nicola
authors.affiliation: Universidade Vila Velha, Vitória, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julyanna Silva Araújo de
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jesus
authors.affiliation: Universidade Vila Velha, Vitória, ES, Brazil. Electronic address: everlayny@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Everlayny Fiorot
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Costalonga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Arterial hypertension; Children; Crianças; Hipertensão arterial; Marcador de risco; Obesidade; Obesity; Risk marker