Department of Paediatrics, National Hospital, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria.
Department of Child Health, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Niger Postgrad Med J. 2024 Apr 1;31(2):111-117. doi: 10.4103/npmj.npmj_254_23. Epub 2024 Jun 3.
The objective of this study was to determine the blood pressure (BP) pattern and prevalence of hypertension amongst apparently healthy primary school pupils in Abuja.
This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out on apparently healthy primary school children aged 6-12 years. BP was measured using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer according to standard guidelines. Data were analysed using SPSS version 17.0. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) and analysis of variance were used to determine the relationship between BP and various variables where applicable. P = 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Out of 1011 pupils recruited for the study, 457 (42.2%) were male. The mean systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP) increased significantly with age from 94.5 mmHg to 101.0 mmHg and from 61.5 mmHg to 65.3 mmHg from 6 to 12 years for SBP and DBP, respectively (P < 0.05). The prevalence of high BP was 9.1%. Age was the only predictor of SBP (β = -0.629, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.115, -0.142), while age, height and body mass index (BMI) were the predictors of DBP (β = -0.686, 95% CI of -1.152, -0.221; β = 0.490, 95% CI of 0.172, 0.809; β = 1.753, 95% CI of 0.374, 3.160) for age, height and BMI, respectively, at P < 0.05.
The predictors of SBP and DBP as shown in this study support the recommendations by various reports for taking body size into consideration in developing reference values for various populations. Age and body size are important determinants of BP in children. Its measurement should be encouraged in schools.
本研究旨在确定阿布贾地区健康的小学生的血压（BP）模式和高血压患病率。
这是一项描述性、横断面研究，对象为 6-12 岁的健康小学生。采用标准的水银血压计按照标准指南测量血压。使用 SPSS 版本 17.0 分析数据。适用时，使用 Pearson 相关系数（r）和方差分析来确定 BP 与各种变量之间的关系。P = 0.05 被认为具有统计学意义。
在纳入研究的 1011 名学生中，有 457 名（42.2%）为男性。收缩压（SBP）和舒张压（DBP）随着年龄的增长从 6 岁到 12 岁从 94.5mmHg 增加到 101.0mmHg，从 61.5mmHg 增加到 65.3mmHg，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。高血压的患病率为 9.1%。年龄是 SBP 的唯一预测因子（β=-0.629，95%置信区间[CI]为-1.115，-0.142），而年龄、身高和体重指数（BMI）是 DBP 的预测因子（β=-0.686，95%CI 为-1.152，-0.221；β=0.490，95%CI 为 0.172，0.809；β=1.753，95%CI 为 0.374，3.160），差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。
本研究中 SBP 和 DBP 的预测因子支持了各种报告的建议，即考虑到体型，制定不同人群的参考值。年龄和体型是儿童血压的重要决定因素。应鼓励在学校测量血压。
