Body height and body mass were identified as major determinants of basal blood pressure in children, with all measured variables accounting for 39% of the variation in systolic blood pressure.
RCT (n=3,524)
Rigid randomized design
No
Are body height and body mass determinants of basal blood pressure in children?
Basal blood pressure in children is proportional to lean and total body mass, indicating that abnormal blood pressure criteria should be based on weight and height rather than age.
Body height and body mass as determinants of basal blood pressure in children--The Bogalusa Heart Study. Am J Epidemiol 106:101-108, 1977. Risk factor variables for coronary artery disease were measured in a total biracial community study of 3524 children, ages 5-14 years. Anthropometric variables, serum lipids, and blood pressure (BP) were measured in a rigid randomized design. Blood pressure data were obtained with an automatic recording instrument that avoids excessive pressure readings in obese children by the use of an over-sized arm cuff bladder with a built-in infrasonic transducer. By reducing the anxiety of the child and by taking multiple readings, pressures were obtained that approached published basal levels. A multiple regression analysis showed that all measured variables could account for 39% of the systolic BP variation. Major determinants were based on weight (W) and height (H). The BP levels, when related to H and to a weight-height index (W/H3), suggest a strong influence of H and an additional influence of W/H3 on BP, both consistent and proportionate over the entire ranges of H and W/H3. The total spectrum of observed correlates of BP, resulting from the multiple regression analysis, suggests that the BP measured under basallike conditions increases as the child grows and is proportional to lean body mass and total body mass. Practical criteria for evaluating abnormal blood pressure levels in children should be based on normative values derived from body weight and body height rather than from age.
Voors et al. (1977) conducted an RCT in Basal blood pressure (n=3,524). Body height and body mass was evaluated on Systolic blood pressure variation. Body height and body mass were identified as major determinants of basal blood pressure in children, with all measured variables accounting for 39% of the variation in systolic blood pressure.