[Development of percentile curves of arterial pressure of a school population of children aged 6-11 years].

This study describes the blood pressure (BP), heart rate and weight distribution of 1214 school-age children (6-11 years old) in Messina. The systolic BP is significantly correlated with weight in every age and in both sexes. The incidence of BP values equal or above the 95 degrees percentile are significantly higher in obese children. The distribution of BP in our population is the same as that reported by other Italian reports, but different from Task Force report. These data suggest the use of Italian blood pressure centiles in the valuation of our childhood population.