HYPERTENSIVE HEART DISEASE IN ADOLESCENCE. PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THE PESESCAD-HTA STUDY

Abstract

Objective: Identify the presence of hypertensive heart disease and its relationship with prehypertension and hypertension Design and method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in 385 prehypertensive adolescents and 128 adolescents with essential hypertension, aged 12–15 years, from among a total of 1,545 adolescents screened in the School Screening for High Blood Pressure in Adolescents Project (PESESCAD-HTA). An echocardiogram was performed in 513 adolescents (prehypertensive plus hypertensive). For the multivariate analysis of risk factors related to LVH, a decision tree was obtained using the chi square automatic interaction detector (CHAID) technique. Results: Among prehypertensive and hypertensive adolescents, the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy was 6.49% (CI = 4.43–9.41) and 21.09% (CI = 14.92–58.95), respectively. In the sample of 513 individuals with prehypertension and hypertension, a decision tree was designed, using the chi square automatic interaction detector (CHAID) technique, with the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy as the dependent variable. Conclusions: The best predictors of left ventricular hypertrophy were a family history of obesity, and its interaction with the age and the sex of the adolescent.