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Blood pressure profile in Nigerian children
L J Hamidu1, E O Okoro, M A Ali
1Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Insights
Blood pressure (BP) in Nigerian children increases with age. Place of residence and ethnicity significantly influence BP patterns, even in early childhood.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Blood pressure (BP) patterns in children are influenced by various factors.
- Understanding these patterns is crucial for early detection of hypertension.
- Limited data exists on BP correlates in Nigerian children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the blood pressure (BP) patterns in primary school children in northern Nigeria.
- To identify factors associated with BP variations in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 1,721 healthy children aged 5-16 years.
- Sitting BP and pulse were measured, along with body weight and height.
- Data was collected from primary schools in three distinct communities in Zaria LGA, Nigeria.
Main Results:
- BP increased with age in all children studied.
- Systolic BP was highest in children from an urban university community (Tudun Wada), followed by semi-urban (Zaria City) and rural (Zaria Kewaye) settings.
- BP differences were observed from age five and appeared independent of physical stature and gender.
Conclusions:
- Place of residence and ethnicity may play a significant role in BP progression with age among Nigerian children.
- These findings highlight the need for context-specific public health interventions.
- Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms.
Objective:
To observe blood pressure (BP) pattern and its correlates in primary school children of northern Nigeria.
Design:
Sitting BP and pulse were measured in quadruplicate, then repeated after four weeks in 1,721 healthy children aged five to 16 years. Body weight and height were also measured in their school environment.
Setting:
Primary schools located in three communities in Zaria Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, Nigeria. The communities were Tudun Wada (University community of migrants with some indigenous Hausa settlers), Zaria City (traditional Hausa community) and Zaria Kewaye (a rural Hausa settlement).
Results:
BP rose with age. However, BP levels particularly systolic was highest in children from Tudun Wada (TW) (urban), followed by those from Zaria city (ZC) (semi urban), and Zaria Kewaye (ZK) (rural). The mean systolic/diastolic BP (mmHg) were: 99/61, 94/62 and 89/60 in children aged five to ten years; and 112/69, 109/68 and 107/68 in those older than 10 years respectively. The differences in BP levels were evident even as early as the age of five years and appears largely independent of physical stature and gender.
Conclusion:
These observations suggest that place of residence and ethnicity may be important factors in the progression of BP with age in some children in northern Nigeria.
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