title: Prevalence of hypertension in a sample of schoolchildren in the Belgrade district.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hypertension in a sample of schoolchildren in the district of Vozdovac (Belgrade).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 780 pupils from I, III, V and VII classes of a primary school and I and III classes of a high school in the district of Vozdovac (Belgrade). The anthropometric data were obtained from medical records of a regular health survey in 2014-2015. Blood pressure (BP) was measured three times using a mercury sphygmomanometer with a cuff of appropriate size at a 5 min interval. BP values at or above the 95th percentile for age, sex, and height were considered indicative of hypertension. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, χ-test, t-test, and correlation analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the participating students, 15.0% were overweight and 6.7% were obese. A significant negative correlation was observed between BMI categories and age (ρ=-0.126; P<0.01). The average systolic blood pressure values in boys and girls were 105.0±14.1 (range 80.0-150.0) and 102.5±12.3 (range 80-155) mmHg, respectively. The average diastolic blood pressure values in boys and girls were 67.6±8.8 (range 50-100) and 66.2±7.7 (range 50-95) mmHg, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension was 10.5%. A significant positive association was found between the presence of hypertension and age (ρ=0.150, P<0.01) and higher BMI level (ρ=0.115, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our sample of schoolchildren, a high prevalence of hypertension was found. Moreover, elevated BP values correlated strongly with age and BMI.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Gorica D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Maric
authors.forename: Marija G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dusanovic
authors.forename: Andjelija V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Kostic
authors.forename: Tatjana D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Pekmezovic
authors.forename: Darija B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Kisic-Tepavcevic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology