Okpokowuruk Frances Sam, Akpan Mkpouto Udeme, Ikpeme Enobong Emmanuel
Department of Paediatrics, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
Pan Afr Med J. 2017 Dec 8;28:303. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2017.28.303.14396. eCollection 2017.
In the past, Hypertension in childhood was not considered a problem but in the last few decades, it has gradually become a source of concern especially as children are known to maintain their blood pressures into adulthood. Therefore, hypertensive children are at risk of developing cardiovascular complications earlier in adulthood. In our own environment, the prevalence of hypertension in children is undocumented, hence the purpose of this study.
Two hundred children aged between 3-17 years were recruited into this study from two public schools-one primary, one secondary in a semi urban community in Uyo metropolis. The blood pressure of respondents was measured in accordance with the technique described by the 4 Task Force on Blood Pressure Control in Children. The height and weight of all eligible subjects was measured using a stadiometer and a calibrated scale respectively. Body Mass Index (BMI) was assessed for each subject and World Health Organization (WHO) charts of BMI for age and sex were used as reference standards. Waist circumference was measured according to the technique described in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
The prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension was found to be 3.5% and 2.5% respectively in this study. Only age (OR = 1.74, p = 0.005, 95%CI = 1.186-2.566), BMI (OR = 1.54, p = <0.001, 95% CI = 1.249-1.913) and waist circumference (OR = 1.16, p = 0.002, 95%CI = 1.056-1.271) were found to significantly predict the development of high blood pressure.
The prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension in this study was found to be low. Hypertension/prehypertension was more likely to develop with increasing age, BMI and waist circumference.
过去，儿童高血压并未被视为一个问题，但在过去几十年里，它逐渐成为一个令人担忧的问题，尤其是因为已知儿童的血压会持续到成年期。因此，高血压儿童在成年期早期有发生心血管并发症的风险。在我们所处的环境中，儿童高血压的患病率尚无记录，因此开展了本研究。
从乌约市一个半城市社区的两所公立学校（一所小学和一所中学）招募了200名年龄在3至17岁之间的儿童参与本研究。按照儿童血压控制特别工作组描述的技术测量受访者的血压。分别使用身高计和校准秤测量所有符合条件受试者的身高和体重。为每个受试者评估体重指数（BMI），并使用世界卫生组织（WHO）的年龄和性别BMI图表作为参考标准。根据国家健康和营养检查调查中描述的技术测量腰围。
本研究中高血压和高血压前期的患病率分别为3.5%和2.5%。仅发现年龄（OR = 1.74，p = 0.005，95%CI = 1.186 - 2.566）、BMI（OR = 1.54，p = <0.001，95%CI = 1.249 - 1.913）和腰围（OR = 1.16，p = 0.002，95%CI = 1.056 - 1.271）能显著预测高血压的发生。
本研究中高血压和高血压前期的患病率较低。高血压/高血压前期更有可能随着年龄、BMI和腰围的增加而发生。
