Key result
Overweight and obese school-going boys had a higher prevalence of systolic hypertension compared to normal-weight boys (16.7% vs 8.2%, OR 2.39), although the association was not statistically significant.
Why the study?
Hypertension is increasingly common in children and often remains undiagnosed and untreated, prompting an evaluation of high blood pressure prevalence and its relationship with body mass index.
Is body mass index associated with elevated blood pressure in school-going children?
Cross-Sectional (n=240)
No
Is body mass index associated with elevated blood pressure in school-going children?
Odds Ratio: 2.39 (95% CI 0.43–13)
Absolute Event Rate: 16.7% vs 8.2%
p-value: p=0.31
Body mass index is a crucial factor affecting blood pressure levels in children, highlighting the importance of routine BMI and BP screening in schools to prevent adulthood hypertension.
Objectives: Hypertension has become common in children and generally remains undiagnosed and untreated. The present study aims to find the prevalence of high blood pressure (BP) and examines the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and BP among school going children. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 240 school going children aged between 10 years and 17 years of Udaipur district of Rajasthan. Data were collected using interview schedules and somatometric measurements were taken based on standardized protocols established by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 20. Hypertension is considered when BP (systolic BP [SBP] and/or diastolic BP [DBP]) level is ≥95 th percentile for height, age, and sex according to the Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High BP in Children and Adolescents (2004). Results: It was found that 49% children were underweight, 3% were overweight, and 2% were obese. Hypertension was seen in 39 (16.2%) children (5.4% systolic hypertension, 5.8% diastolic hypertension, and 5% both systolic and diastolic hypertension). Children who were overweight/obese were more likely to have hypertension than those who were normal or underweight. Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate that BMI is a crucial factor affecting BP levels. Simple measurements of body weight and height to determine BMI as a routine assessment in schools would help in controlling BP levels in children that might cause adulthood morbidity and mortality due to hypertension.
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Kaur et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension (n=240). Overweight and obesity vs. Normal weight was evaluated on Systolic hypertension (OR 2.39, 95% CI 0.43-13.0, p=0.31). Overweight and obese school-going boys had a higher prevalence of systolic hypertension compared to normal-weight boys (16.7% vs 8.2%, OR 2.39), although the association was not statistically significant.
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