Key result
Older age is linked to higher blood pressure independently of body size in prepubertal girls, not boys.
Why the study?
The relationship between age, gender, body size, and blood pressure in prepubertal children was not fully understood, particularly the independent effect of age on BP after adjusting for body size and adiposity.
Population
4,514 prepubertal children aged 6-11 years from southern Italy
Comparison
Boys versus girls, adjusted for waist circumference and height
Design
Cross-sectional analysis from the ARCA Project
Authors
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May support sex-specific BP monitoring in girls; leaves open confirmation via prospective studies before practice change.
Cross-Sectional (n=4,514)
p-value: p=0.002
In prepubertal girls aged 6-11 years, age is significantly associated with blood pressure independently of body size and adiposity, a relationship not observed in boys.
Barba et al. (2008) conducted a cross-sectional in Blood pressure in prepubertal children (n=4,514). Age was evaluated on Age-related increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure adjusted for waist circumference and height (p=0.002). Age was significantly associated with increased systolic (P=0.002) and diastolic (P=0.01) blood pressure independently of body size in prepubertal girls aged 6-11 years, but not in boys.