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Blood pressure measurement in preschool children: the Hisayama Study
H Igarashi1, J Fukushige, K Akazawa
1Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Insights
Establishing a blood pressure (BP) measurement protocol for Japanese preschoolers is crucial. Appropriate cuff size selection based on upper arm circumference ensures accurate BP readings correlated with anthropometric values.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiovascular Health
- Anthropometry
Background:
- Accurate blood pressure (BP) measurement in children is vital for monitoring cardiovascular health.
- Standardized protocols are needed for pediatric BP assessment, especially in diverse populations like Japanese preschoolers.
- Previous studies have highlighted the influence of anthropometric factors on BP readings in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a reliable blood pressure (BP) measurement protocol for Japanese preschool children.
- To investigate the correlation between BP measurements (systolic K1, diastolic K4, K5) and anthropometric values in this age group.
- To determine the optimal conditions for accurate BP assessment in preschool-aged individuals.
Main Methods:
- Utilized commercially available mercury sphygmomanometers for BP measurements.
- Compared two groups of preschool children (Group A: standard cuff; Group B: size-appropriate cuffs based on arm measurements).
- Conducted two BP measurements on the right arm in a seated position with a 5-minute interval.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in anthropometric values (height, weight, BMI, arm dimensions) between the two groups.
- Identified significant correlations between BP components (K1, K4, K5) and specific anthropometric measures (arm length, body weight, BMI, height, arm circumference).
- Found significant differences in K4 measurements between groups using standard versus appropriate cuff sizes, indicating the importance of cuff selection.
Conclusions:
- A single blood pressure measurement can be sufficient for Japanese preschoolers when appropriate measurement conditions are met.
- Selecting the correct cuff size based on upper arm circumference is critical for accurate BP assessment.
- Blood pressure in preschool children is closely correlated with their anthropometric characteristics.
Objective:
To establish the blood pressure (BP) measurement protocol for Japanese preschool children, systolic BP (K1) and diastolic BP (K4, K5) were measured along with anthropometric values.
Methodology:
Commercially available mercury sphygmomanometers were used. In the first group of children (group A), BP was measured in 79 boys and 85 girls using a cuff 9 cm wide and 23 cm long. In the second group (group B), the length and circumference of the upper right arm of 147 boys and 139 girls were measured to select cuffs appropriate for their sizes. Blood pressure measurements were performed twice on the right arm of the children in the seated position at a mean interval of 5 min.
Results:
There were no significant differences in the anthropometric values (height, bodyweight, body mass index [BMI], length and circumference of the upper arm) between groups A and B. The BP values at K1, K4 and K5 in the first measurement of group B were 91 +/- 9, 54 +/- 8, and 48 +/- 10 mmHg (boys) and 90 +/- 9, 54 +/- 8, and 48 +/- 12 mmHg (girls), respectively. There were no significant differences between the first and second measurements in both groups, however, there were significant differences in the first and second measurements of K4 between groups A and B. Multiple regression analysis by the stepwise method revealed a strong correlation between K1 and the length of the upper arm in the boys and the bodyweight in the girls: between K4 and the bodyweight in the boys and the BMI in the girls, and between K5 and the height in the boys and the upper arm circumference in the girls.
Conclusions:
From these results it would appear that a single measurement is sufficient under appropriate measurement conditions such as rest before measurement and the choice of the cuff size according to the upper arm circumference, and that BP is closely correlated with the anthropometric values in preschool children.