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High prevalence of hypertension in normal and underweight Indian children

Simonetta Genovesi1, Laura Antolini, Maurizio Gallieni

  • 1Department of Clinical Medicine and Prevention, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.

Journal of Hypertension
|November 4, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Childhood hypertension is prevalent in Indian children, even in those underweight. Overweight children showed a significantly higher prevalence, indicating a complex relationship with weight status and unknown causes beyond overt kidney disease.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Nephrology

Background:

  • Childhood hypertension predicts adult hypertension and organ damage.
  • It is an underestimated health issue in developing nations.
  • This study focuses on children aged 5-12 years in a suburban area of Kolkata, India.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of arterial hypertension in children.
  • To examine the relationship between blood pressure, weight class, and urinary abnormalities.

Main Methods:

  • Measured arterial blood pressure, height, weight, and waist circumference.
  • Defined weight class using International Obesity Task Force criteria.
  • Performed urinalysis for glucosuria, microhematuria, and proteinuria.

Main Results:

  • 5.2% of children had elevated blood pressure (≥95th percentile).
  • Hypertension prevalence was 4.3% in underweight, 6.9% in normal-weight, and 20% in overweight children.
  • Urinary abnormalities were observed in 8.5% of hypertensive vs. 12.5% of non-hypertensive children (P=0.36).

Conclusions:

  • Hypertension prevalence in these Indian children exceeds Western rates and is only partly linked to weight.
  • The causes of hypertension in this population are not clearly related to overt kidney disease and require further investigation.
Abstract

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