Key result
Elevated blood pressure affects ~14% of young children, linked to higher adiposity and poor diet.
Why the study?
Elevated blood pressure, hypertension, and prehypertension, combined with rising pediatric overweight/obesity, correlate with heightened cardiovascular risk, requiring assessment and early detection indicators.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,142)
Yes
Elevated blood pressure and overweight/obesity are highly prevalent in young children, highlighting the necessity for early screening and lifestyle interventions to prevent future cardiovascular events.
May support early BP screening in children using BMI, fat, and diet markers; cross-sectional data leaves causal and interventional implications open.
Elevated blood pressure (EBP), hypertension (HT), and prehypertension (PHT), along with the rising prevalence of overweight/obesity in children, correlate with a heightened risk of cardiovascular complications. This study focuses on assessing the prevalence of overweight/obesity and EBP and identifying potential indicators for effective early screening and detection of EBP in children aged 6 to 9 years old. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 1142 students from different schools across the Valencian Community in Spain. Data collection involved administering a questionnaire alongside direct anthropometric measurements of each student. The collected data underwent comprehensive statistical analysis, including frequencies, percentages, means, and chi-square automatic interaction detector (CHAID) analysis. In the sample, 7.5% of the children had HT and 6.8% had PHT, meaning 14.3% presented with EBP. Additionally, 17.0% of the children were classified as overweight and 3.9% as obese. Body mass index >23.1, body fat percentage >20.79%, and Kidmed scores <8 were identified as potential markers for early detection of EBP. The study reveals a significant incidence of EBP and overweight/obesity. Implementing screening protocols for early detection of EBP is imperative to forestall future cardiovascular events. Moreover, lifestyle modifications emerge as the most crucial approach for managing these risk factors.
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Morales‐Suárez‐Varela et al. (2023) conducted a cross-sectional in Elevated blood pressure and obesity risk in children (n=1,142). High body mass index, elevated body fat percentage, and low Kidmed score vs. Normal weight and normal body fat parameters was evaluated on Prevalence of elevated blood pressure (hypertension and prehypertension). In a cohort of Spanish children aged 6 to 9 years, the prevalence of elevated blood pressure was 14.3%, with BMI >23.1, body fat >20.79%, and Kidmed scores <8 identified as key potential markers.
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