OBJECTIVE: To evaluate blood pressure levels in children, relating them to body mass index and abdominal circumference. METHODS: This cross-sectional prospective study enrolled 1.408 school children, aged between five and ten years and 11 months, in the municipality of Santo Andre, São Paulo, Brazil. The following variables were evaluated: birth weight, weight and height, expressed as body mass index Z score (ZBMI) and height to age Z score (ZH), and waist circumference (WC). Blood pressure was measured once by the same physician. Malnutrition was considered when ZBMI <-2, obesity when ZBMI >+2, short stature when ZH <-2, increased abdominal circumference when >P90 for age and gender, and increased blood pressure when >P90 for age, gender and height. Statistical analysis included chi-square test and Odds Ratio, being significant p<0.05. RESULTS: Mean age was seven years old, and 51% were females. High systolic blood pressure levels were observed in 19% and elevated diastolic blood pressure in 12%. Short stature, malnutrition, obesity and increased abdominal circumference were diagnosed in 2.6%, 3.1%, 7.3% and 13.4%, respectively, of the studied population. The presence of obesity was strongly associated with high systolic (OR 2.1, 95%IC 1.3-3.3; p<0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (OR 2.6, 95%IC 1.6-4.3; p<0.001). Increased abdominal circumference was also an important risk factor for high systolic blood pressure (OR 1.6; 95%IC 1.0-2.5; p=0.027). CONCLUSIONS: High blood pressure in children is associated with obesity and increased abdominal circumference.
obesity; abdominal circumference; hypertension; body mass index; child
