title: Hypertension, overweight and obesity in adolescents: the CRO-KOP study.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension, overweight and obesity in Croatian adolescents. In this cross-sectional survey (the sub-study of the EH-UH study) 375 boys and 381 girls (mean age 15.9 +/- 0.5 years) from four high schools in the city of Koprivnica were enrolled. Blood pressure, body height and body weight were measured according to the current ESH/ESC guidelines. Data on life style were obtained from questionnaire. Average blood pressure values were higher in boys than in girls (117/74 mmHg vs. 111/69 mmHg; p < 0.001). Significantly higher blood pressure values were obtained in overweight children compared to those with normal weight (119/76 mmHg us. 115/72 mmHg; p < 0.01). Prevalence of hypertension was 8.5% in the whole group being significantly higher in boys than in girls (11.2% vs. 5.8%; p = 0.0007). As expected, prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in obese children than in those with normal weight (20.0% vs. 6.8%; p = 0.015). A significant correlation was found between body mass index and blood pressure (p = 0.0001). The overall prevalence of obesity was 3.54% (boys 2.2%; girls 4.9%). Our results confirmed positive relationship between overweight, obesity and hypertension starting from childhood pointing again the utmost importance of preventive measures beginning from early life.
authors.affiliation: University of Zagreb, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Department of Internal Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia. ivanpecin@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pećin
authors.forename: Romana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Samovojska
authors.forename: Branko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: Tajana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zeljković-Vrkić
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laganović
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jelaković
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors