[Impact of anthropometric variables and socioeconomic level in arterial pressure in childhood].

2,069 children of both sexes (1,172 males and 897 females) with ages between two and fifteen years old, from Majadahonda (Madrid) have been studied. We registered the age, weight, height and arterial pressure of all of them, as well as their parents' occupation. The percentage of initial high blood pressure (2.41%) was similar to that reported so far in the literature, with a higher incidence within the males, and also higher values recorded in the levels of blood pressure among the four socioeconomic groups in which the children were classified, but we did find a higher percentage of initial high blood pressure in the group defined as high-middle class (p less than 0.05). The correlation indexes between arterial pressure and weight, body surface, height and years of age, were studied being all of them statistically significant, with values ranging from higher to lower in this same order (p less than 0.001). No statistically significant difference was found between the correlation indexes of blood pressure/height and blood pressure/age. We conclude that this last variant is the most useful one to establish the normal values of blood pressure in childhood.