Association between excess peripheral, central and general adiposity with high blood pressure in adolescents in southern Brazil.

Abstract

Introduction: excess adiposity is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure. Children and adolescents with obesity and hypertension are at greater risk of morbidity and mortality in adulthood. Objective: to analyze the association between excess peripheral, central and general adiposity with high blood pressure in adolescents in southern Brazil. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study with 1,132 adolescents (16.50 ± 1.14 years) of both sexes. Measurements were performed with the oscillometric method using digital sphygmomanometer, considering high systolic and diastolic blood pressure, values above the 95th percentile for sex and age. Peripheral adiposity (triceps skinfold) and central adiposity (subscapular skinfold) were classified as high from the 90th percentile of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reference distribution. For excess general adiposity, triceps and subscapular skinfold above the 90th percentile were simultaneously considered. Logistic regression was used with 5% significance level. Results: male adolescents with high peripheral, central and general adiposity were, respectively, 2.43 (95% CI: 1.14; 5.19), 3.50 (95% CI: 1.66; 7.41) and 2.47 (95% CI: 1.01; 6.18) times more likely of having high SBP. Male adolescents with excess general adiposity were more likely of developing high diastolic blood pressure (OR: 3.31; 95% CI: 1.41; 7.70). Female adolescents with excess central and general adiposity were 4.15 (95% CI: 1.97; 8.77) and 3.30 (95% CI: 1.41; 7.77) times more likely of developing high diastolic blood pressure, respectively. Conclusion: male adolescents with excess peripheral, central and general adiposity were more likely of having high systolic blood pressure and high diastolic blood pressure when presenting high general adiposity. In addition, female adolescents with high excess central and general adiposity were more likely of having high diastolic blood pressure.