[Arterial hypertension in children aged 8-14 living in Zabrze]

In a group of 465 children (232 girls and 233 boys) aged 8-14 years, attending a primary school in Zabrze (Katowice District, southern Poland) arterial blood pressure was measured 3 times, body height and weight, once. A questionnaire collecting information about parents' education and hypertension, school performance and physical activity of the children was used. Among the studied children 417 (89.7%) presented with normal mean arterial pressure values, while 36 (7.7%) with arterial hypertension and 12 (2.6%) with borderline hypertension. The influence of children's obesity and parents' hypertension on the incidence of hypertension in children was proved, while physical activity, children's school performance as well as education of the parents did not show significant influence. The studied group revealed the highest frequency of arterial hypertension in Poland. Arterial blood pressure measurement is an important element of pediatric examination and treatment, constituting prophylaxis of cardiovascular morbidity in adulthood.