Key result
Obesity (prevalence 22.1%) and systolic blood pressure were significant predictors of increased doctor's visits within the last year among low-income, minority preschool children.
Why the study?
Are obesity and systolic blood pressure associated with increased use of health care services in low-income, minority preschool children?
Observational (n=660)
Are obesity and systolic blood pressure associated with increased use of health care services in low-income, minority preschool children?
In low-income minority preschool children, obesity and higher systolic blood pressure are significantly associated with an increased frequency of doctor visits.
Obesity and SBP may flag higher healthcare use in low-income minority preschoolers; hypothesis-generating for targeted screening pending prospective studies.
BACKGROUND: The association between weight, blood pressure, and use of health care services is not well understood in low-income, preschool children. METHODS: This study was a secondary data analysis of previously collected data. Body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure were collected during health screenings, and information regarding use of health care services was collected by parent report. RESULTS: Of the 660 children screened, 22.1% of the sample was classified as obese and 15.2% were considered overweight. Obese children had significantly more doctor's visits than both overweight and normal weight children. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) also emerged a significant predictor of number of doctor's visits within the last year. Neither were significantly associated with emergency department visits or hospitalizations. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that lowincome, preschool children have high rates of obesity. It also provides new information regarding the association between obesity, SBP, and physician visits in this population.
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Montgomery et al. (2017) conducted an observational in Cardiovascular risk factors (n=660). Obesity and systolic blood pressure vs. Normal weight and lower systolic blood pressure was evaluated on Number of doctor's visits, emergency department visits, or hospitalizations within the last year. Obesity (prevalence 22.1%) and systolic blood pressure were significant predictors of increased doctor's visits within the last year among low-income, minority preschool children.
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