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Blood pressure and urinary excretion of electrolytes in Spanish schoolchildren
A Maldonado-Martín1, L García-Matarín, B Gil-Extremera
1Hypertension Unit, University Hospital of Granada, Spain.
Insights
Childhood hypertension is not well understood. This study found weak correlations between urinary electrolytes and blood pressure (BP) in Spanish schoolchildren, with body weight showing a slight association.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Hypertension's impact on child health remains unclear.
- Understanding factors influencing childhood blood pressure (BP) is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between elevated BP in children and 24-hour urinary sodium (Na) and potassium (K) excretion.
- To explore the association between BP and dietary salt intake in schoolchildren.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional epidemiological study of 613 schoolchildren (aged 6-14) randomly selected from 59,856 in Almería, Spain.
- Measured 24-hour urinary Na and K, systolic and diastolic BP, body weight, and height.
- Utilized correlation and multiple regression analyses.
Main Results:
- Weak correlations were observed between Na excretion and systolic BP (r=0.18) and K excretion and systolic BP (r=0.49).
- Body weight demonstrated the strongest correlation with systolic BP (r=0.49), diastolic BP, and Na excretion (r=0.48).
- Multiple regression indicated body weight as the best correlate for systolic BP, but explained only 26% of BP variability.
Conclusions:
- Urinary electrolytes showed poor correlation with BP in this cohort of Spanish schoolchildren.
- Body weight was the only variable weakly associated with BP and Na excretion.
- Further research is needed to understand childhood hypertension determinants.
Abstract:
Despite the importance of hypertension in adults, its effects on child health are poorly understood. This cross-sectional epidemiological study was designed to look for a relationship between elevated blood pressure (BP) in children and 24-h urinary excretion of sodium (Na) and potassium (K), and between BP and dietary salt intake. The study population was all 59 856 schoolchildren aged 6 to 14 years in the province of Almería in southern Spain, among whom 613 participants were chosen randomly for study. We measured 24-h urinary Na and K concentrations, systolic and diastolic BP, body weight and height. There was a weak correlation between Na excretion and systolic BP (r = 0.18, 95% confidence interval 0.10-0.26), and between K excretion and systolic BP (r = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.04-0.20). Body weight was the variable that best correlated with systolic (r = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.43-0.55) and diastolic BP, and with Na excretion (r = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.42-0.55). Multiple regression analysis also showed that body weight was the variable that best correlated with systolic BP (b = 0.58), although the variables in the equation explained little of the total variability in BP (26%). These correlations were significant at P < 0.05. In conclusion urinary electrolytes correlated poorly with BP in a sample of Spanish schoolchildren. Body weight was the only variable that showed a weak relationship with BP and Na excretion.