title: Association between obesity and high blood pressure among Lithuanian adolescents: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most epidemiological studies have shown that the prevalence of high blood pressure (BP) has significantly increased among children and adolescents in various countries of the world. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between overweight, obesity, abdominal obesity and prehypertension and hypertension among Lithuanian adolescents aged 12-15 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects with increased BP (≥90th percentile) were screened on two separate occasions. Data on the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and BP were analysed in 7,457 adolescents aged 12-15 years. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations were estimated using multivariate logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After two screenings, the study participants were categorised as prehypertensive (12.8%), hypertensive (22.2%), and normotensive (65%). The overall prevalence of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity (if WC was in the ≥75th percentile) were 12.1%, 2.4%, and 9%, respectively. After adjusting for age and sex, significant associations were found between overweight and obesity and high BP, namely, prehypertension (overweight: aOR = 2.62; 95% CI 2.13-3.23; obesity: aOR = 4.81; 95% CI 3.08-7.52) and hypertension (overweight: aOR = 3.56; 95% CI 3.02-4.19; obesity: aOR = 6.64; 95% CI 4.65-9.49). Prehypertension was found to be significantly associated with WC in the 75th- < 90th percentiles (aOR = 3.16; 95% CI 2.43-4.10) and WC in the ≥90th percentile (aOR = 4.08; 95% CI 2.35-7.10). For hypertension, significant associations were detected with WC in the 75th- < 90th percentiles (aOR = 3.92; 95% CI 3.18-4.82) and WC in the ≥90th percentile (aOR = 7.41; 95% CI 4.97-11.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity were associated with prehypertension and hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukileliu ave. 17, LT-50009, Kaunas, Lithuania. virginija.dulskiene@lsmuni.lt.
authors.forename: Virginija
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dulskiene
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukileliu ave. 17, LT-50009, Kaunas, Lithuania. renatakuciene@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuciene
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukileliu ave. 17, LT-50009, Kaunas, Lithuania. jurate.medzioniene@lsmuni.lt.
authors.forename: Jurate
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Medzioniene
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukileliu ave. 17, LT-50009, Kaunas, Lithuania. rimantas.benetis@lsmuni.lt.
authors.forename: Rimantas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benetis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors