Key result
In Spanish schoolchildren aged 4 to 6 years, the prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension was 12.3% and 18.2%, respectively, and higher adiposity was significantly associated with higher blood pressure levels (p<0.001).
Why the study?
The prevalence of high blood pressure in children is increasing worldwide, largely driven by the childhood obesity epidemic, prompting evaluation of prehypertension, hypertension, and adiposity associations in young children.
Is there an association between adiposity indicators and blood pressure components in Spanish schoolchildren aged 4-6 years?
Cross-Sectional (n=1,604)
Yes
Is there an association between adiposity indicators and blood pressure components in Spanish schoolchildren aged 4-6 years?
p-value: p=<0.001
There is a high prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension in Spanish children aged 4-6 years, which is significantly associated with higher levels of adiposity.
Elevated BP prevalence in Spanish preschoolers may warrant early adiposity screening; cross-sectional data leaves open causal confirmation and preventive strategies.
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of high blood pressure in children is increasing worldwide, largely, but not entirely, driven by the concurrent childhood obesity epidemic. The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension in 4-to-6-year-old Spanish schoolchildren, and to evaluate the association between different blood pressure (BP) components with different adiposity indicators. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including a sample of 1.604 schoolchildren aged 4-to-6-years belonging to 21 schools from the provinces of Ciudad Real and Cuenca, Spain. We measured height, weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass percentage (%FM), triceps skinfold thickness (TST), waist circumference (WC), systolic and diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure. RESULTS: The estimates of prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension were 12.3% and 18.2%, respectively. In both sexes, adiposity indicators were positively and significantly associated with all BP components (p<0.001), thus schoolchildren in the higher adiposity categories had significantly higher BP levels (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show a high prevalence of high blood pressure in Spanish children. Moreover, high levels of adiposity are associated with high blood pressure in early childhood, which support that it could be related to cardiovascular risk later in life.
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Espinosa et al. (2017) conducted a cross-sectional in High blood pressure and obesity (n=1,604). High adiposity (BMI, fat mass percentage, waist circumference, triceps skinfold thickness) vs. Lower adiposity categories was evaluated on Prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension, and association of blood pressure with adiposity indicators (p=<0.001). In Spanish schoolchildren aged 4 to 6 years, the prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension was 12.3% and 18.2%, respectively, and higher adiposity was significantly associated with higher blood pressure levels (p<0.001).
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