A3314 To determine the applicability of blood pressure to height ratio (BPHR) in early adolescence (9–13 years old) for detecting hypertension in early adolescents

Abstract

Objectives: To validate the use of BPHR for diagnosing hypertension in early adolescence (9–13years). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on (n = 600) school going adolescents,(boys, n = 300 and girls, n = 300) aged 9–13 years in Pune. Clinic Blood pressure readings, Height and weight was measured as per the NHANES guidelines. Data was stratified using Indian population based percentiles. Results: Systolic and diastolic BP in girls were 103.2 ± 8.3 and 62 ± 5.2 mmHg respectively and 106.5 ± 6.56 and 65 ± 4.1 mmHg respectively. Age and SBPHR among girls (r = − 0.106; P < 0.001) showed inverse correlation, and a weak correlation between age and DBPHR among boys (r = 0.071; P = 0.002) was found. Age and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (age and SBP, r = 0.423 for boys and r = 0.271 for girls; age and DBP, r = 0.311 for boys and r = 0.293 for girls; all P < 0.001) showed a positive correlation. The correlations between age and both BPHR were significant in both boys and girls (r = 0.079 for age and SBPHR, r = 0.125 for age and DBPHR in girls; r = 0.062 for age and SBPHR, r = 0.132 for age and DBPHR in boys).Strong Correlation was found between BPHR and BP (r > 0.83 for all variables; P < 0.001).There were correlations between SBPHR and SBP percentiles (r = 0.782,P < 0.001) and DBPHR and DBP percentiles (r = 0.819,P < 0.001). All AUCs were >0.9 in both sexes among early adolescents except for those falling between the 90th and 95th percentiles. Conclusion: Blood pressure to height ratio is a sensitive and specific tool for detecting hypertension in adolescence. It was not effective in determining pre-hypertension.