Quantitative analysis of the tracking of blood pressure and relative factors in childhood: Shimane Heart Study.

1. In order to clarify the predictive factors of cardiovascular diseases caused by hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia in adults, a longitudinal epidemiological study was started in 1978. 2. This paper reports the results of research carried out from a quantitative analysis of the tracking of blood pressure and anthropometric parameters in children and adolescents using a tracking index. The index was calculated according to the changes in blood pressure quintiles for the whole population during the observation period. 3. The study population consisted of 5148 Japanese children living in the city of Izumo, who were examined every 3 years between the ages of 6 and 15 years old. 4. Although systolic blood pressure tracked weakly during childhood and adolescence, there was no significant relation between the tracking of systolic blood pressure and a family history of hypertension. 5. The tracking indices of the anthropometric parameters were better than those of systolic blood pressure, but the index of the left ventricular mass was similar to that of systolic blood pressure. 6. In conclusion the tracking of blood pressure might be determined by the tracking of bodyweight and height.