PP.13.10] HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS′ BLOOD PRESSURE EVALUATION IN A RURAL DISTRICT

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to study the blood pressure (BP) of a population of high school students, from a rural district, focusing on the behavior and social factors relevant in hypertension in children and adolescents. Design and method: We randomly selected 2 classes from every grade, in three schools, from a predominantly rural district. Blood pressure measurements were performed in accordance with the 2016 ESH consensus document for the management of high blood pressure in children and adolescents. All students were voluntarily enrolled, after parental agreement. The school district′s authority ethics commission gave its agreement. All the students were volunteers and performed a questionnaire comprehending: gender, age, ethnics, parental academic education, alcohol consumption, smoking, coffee consumption, physical activity, sleep pattern (8–10 h sleep per night), and family history of hypertension. All the students had their height and weight registered, by an independent subject. BP data were classified according to the 2016 ESH consensus in Normal (class I), High Normal (class II), Hypertension Stage I (class III), Hypertension Stage II (class IV) and Isolated Systolic Hypertension (ISH). The subjects BP were related to the studied parameters, in order to better identify trends in this population. Results: We studied 330 subjects, 141 (42,7%) were male, aged 15,2 ± 1,4 years old (13–18). BP classes were Class I (normal) 290 (87,9%); Class II 23 (7%); Class III 7 (2,1%); Class IV 0 (0%), ISH 10 (3,0%). There was a relationship between BP class and gender (p = 0,01) - see figure below; alcohol consumption and BP (p = 0,01); sleep pattern (p = 0,03) and to IMC (asymptotic = 0,003; exact = 0,06). There was no relation between BP class and age, ethnics, parents academic achievement, smoking, coffee consumption, physical activity and family history of hypertension.Conclusions: In this population of children and adolescents, 5% of subjects had hypertension and 7% had high normal BP according to the 2016 ESH consensus. Gender and sleep pattern seem to be important for hypertension in this early ages.