[Normal blood pressure values in Spanish children]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Public Health

Context:

• Study conducted on 2,953 children aged 2-14 years in various Spanish schools and rural areas.
• Blood pressure measurements followed World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee recommendations.
• Data collected from diverse geographical locations across Spain.

Purpose:

• To establish normative blood pressure percentiles for Spanish children.
• To compare findings with international blood pressure standards.

Summary:

• Spanish children exhibited lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to international references (USA, Greece, France).
• The study found statistically significant differences (p < 0.001), particularly in diastolic blood pressure.
• Results presented in age- and sex-specific percentiles.

Impact:

• Provides crucial regional blood pressure data for pediatric health monitoring in Spain.
• Highlights potential ethnic or environmental factors influencing blood pressure in children.
• Informs clinical guidelines and public health strategies for childhood hypertension.