Cardiovascular risk factors in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Systemic hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Early identification and management of hypertension in childhood are vital for preventing future adverse health events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between blood pressure (diastolic and systolic) and anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference) in children.
• To investigate the influence of residential area (urban vs. rural) on blood pressure in children.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 709 children aged six to nine years.
• Measurements included blood pressure, weight, height, and waist circumference.
• Statistical analysis used SPSS version 13.0 with a significance level of p≤0.05.

Main Results:

• Obesity showed a significant association with pre-hypertension and hypertension stages (p≤0.05).
• High waist circumference correlated significantly with pre-hypertension and hypertension stages based on diastolic and systolic blood pressure (p≤0.01).

Conclusions:

• Children in urban areas exhibited higher systolic blood pressure than those in rural areas.
• Elevated waist circumference and obesity were linked to increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
• Blood pressure increased with age, body mass index, and waist circumference in children.