BODY MASS INDEX AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN FIGUEIRA DA FOZ PEDIATRIC POPULATION - A MULTICENTER STUDY IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

• Main Author: Paz, G.
• Publication Date: 2022
• Other Authors: Vale, C., Teles, E., Teixeira, C., Ribeiro, M., Martins, I., Viegas, A., Pereira, T., Rosa, M., Fernandes, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: por
• Source: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Download full: https://doi.org/10.58043/rphrc.9
• topic: índice de massa corporal; obesidade pediátrica; tensão arterial; pediatria; body mass index; pediatric obesity; blood pressure; pediatrics

Introduction and Objectives: Increasing number of studies show an association between overweight and obesity with arterial hypertension in childhood. The aim of this study was to assess body mass index (BMI) and high blood pressure (HBP) and its association in children and adolescents.Methods: Observational, cross-sectional and analytical study. Data was collected from the medical records of patients between 5 and 17 years of age, enrolled in the primary health care units at Figueira da Foz. The variables collected were gender, date of birth, weight, height, BMI, Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure. The descriptive and analytical statistical study was performed. Results: 2022 children were included, mean age was 10.5 ± 3.8 years, 50.3% were males. It was observed that 15.2% had obesity and 14.2% had overweight. Regarding BP, 7% had high normal BP and 5.6% had high BP. Children with overweight or obesity had an higher risk of high BP, Odd Ratio of 2.21 (95% CI, 1.35-3.61) in overweight children and 3.55 (95% CI, 2.26-5.57) in children with obesity. Conclusion: In the studied sample, approximately one in three young people was overweighed or obese. Children and adolescents with excessive weight had a significantly higher prevalence of elevated systolic and diastolic BP. Thus, since obese and hypertensive children are at an increased risk of becoming obese and hypertensive adults, it is important to implement preventive measures in this early stage of the life cycle.