Blood pressure of urban Native American school children

In 307 Native American (NA), 1784 black (B), and 7777 white (W) children in grades 1, 2, and 3 in Minneapolis schools (99% overall response rate), blood pressure (BP) was measured supine in the right arm after 5 minutes' rest by trained technicians using a random zero BP device. In addition, height, weight, pulse rate, and triceps skinfold thickness were measured. Among children aged 6 through 9 years, NA children had slightly higher systolic BP (SBP) than B or W children overall (mean SBP: NA 106, B 104, W 105 mm Hg) and for nearly all age sex groups. In contrast, Phase 4 and 5 diastolic BP (DBP) were consistently lower in NA children ( mean DBP4: NA 64, B 69, W 67 mm Hg); NA children also had lower pulse rates, greater pulse pressures, similar or slightly lower mean BP, similar height, greater weight, body mass index, and triceps skinfold. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the slightly higher SBP in NA children was explained almost entirely by greater ponderosity. However, the lower DBP could not be explained statistically by any of the variables measured.