[Familial aggregation of arterial pressure figures and weight indices: study in Cuenca].

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the familial aggregation of blood pressure and body mass index levels in schoolchildren of Cuenca city, Spain.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A cross sectional study was made including 307 both sexes schoolchildren 9-12 years old recruited in three schools of Cuenca city, and 346 of their parents. There were determined sociodemographics variables, weight, height, body mass index, SBP, DBP and fasting plasma total cholesterol, cLDL, cHDL and triglyceride concentrations.

RESULTS

Parents-children correlation coefficients in blood pressure levels ranged between -0.1 and 0.2. Parents-daughters correlations were stronger than parents-sons in ponderal indexes. The relationship of ponderal indexes and blood pressure between spouses was weak, with correlation coefficients between 0.08 y 0.1. By stepwise multiple regression analysis it was found that the only variable that explained a significant percentage of blood pressure variability (both systolic and diastolic) was the weight of the schoolchildren in both sexes. Parents body mass index explained more than 32% of body mass index daughter's variability. In sons any variable explained a significant percentage of variability.

CONCLUSIONS

The parents-children aggregation of blood pressure is weak. Parents-children aggregation of ponderal indexes is stronger, though there are considerable sex-differences. Spouses relationship, though positive, is weak in all variables.