title: High Blood Pressure in Adolescents of Curitiba: Prevalence and Associated Factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arterial hypertension is a major public health problem and has increased considerably in young individuals in past years. Thus, identifying factors associated with this condition is important to guide intervention strategies in this population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine high blood pressure prevalence and its associated factors in adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 1,242 students enrolled in public schools of the city of Curitiba (PR) was selected. Self-administered questionnaires provided family history of hypertension, daily energy expenditure, smoking habit, daily fat intake, and socioeconomic status. Waist circumference was measured following standardized procedures, and blood pressure was measured with appropriate cuffs in 2 consecutive days to confirm high blood pressure. Relative frequency and confidence interval (95%CI) indicated high blood pressure prevalence. Bivariate and multivariate analyses assessed the association of risk factors with high blood pressure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The high blood pressure prevalence was 18.2% (95%CI 15.2-21.6). Individuals whose both parents had hypertension [odds ratio (OR), 2.22; 95%CI 1.28-3.85] and those with high waist circumference (OR, 2.1; 95%CI 1.34-3.28) had higher chances to develop high blood pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positive family history of hypertension and high waist circumference were associated with high blood pressure in adolescents. These factors are important to guide future interventions in this population.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bozza
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wagner de
authors.initials: Wd
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valter Cordeiro
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Barbosa Filho
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná, Jacarezinho, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stabelini Neto
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michael Pereira da
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato Silva Barbosa
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Maziero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors