title: Blood pressure levels and body mass index in Brazilian adults with Down syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increased life expectancy among people with Down syndrome (DS) has introduced new environmental factors that may affect blood pressure (BP) and/or lead to obesity in this population. The aim here was to investigate BP levels and body mass index (BMI) in adults with DS, correlating these data with the patients' sex and age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analytical cross-sectional observational study conducted in special schools in Curitiba (PR), Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  97 adult patients were included. BP was measured in accordance with the established guidelines. BMI was calculated by dividing the weight by the height squared (kg/m2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sex had no influence on BMI; nor did systolic BP (SBP) or diastolic BP (DBP). The age range was from 18 to 56 years. No correlation was observed between increasing age and greater BMI or BP. Eighty-six individuals (88.7%) presented normal BP, eleven (11.3%) prehypertension and none hypertension. Twenty patients (20.4%) presented BP lower than 90 × 60 mmHg. BMI ranged from 18 to 48 kg/m2 (mean of 28.8 ± 3.92 kg/m2): 21.9% had normal weight; 40.7% were overweight; and 25.3% had obesity class I, 9.9% class II and 2.2% class III. Higher BMI was associated with significantly greater SBP and DBP (P = 0.0175 and P = 0.0015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sex and age did not influence SBP, DBP or BMI in Brazilian adults with DS. Higher BMI was associated with greater BP (both systolic and diastolic).
authors.affiliation: MD. Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Universidade Positivo (UP), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pucci
authors.affiliation: MD. Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Universidade Positivo (UP), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: MD. Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Universidade Positivo (UP), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edcarlo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Solera
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Student, Department of Medicine, Universidade Positivo (UP), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cenovicz
authors.affiliation: MD. Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Universidade Positivo (UP), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.affiliation: PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Universidade Positivo (UP), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Chiu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.affiliation: PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Universidade Positivo (UP), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nisihara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult