Abstract
The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of high blood pressure (HBP) in adolescents of the Valencian Autonomous Community (VC) in Spain. Besides, its association with other risk factors related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) or arterial hypertension (AHT) in order to increase our knowledge of public health and to provide advice about healthy diets. We conducted a multicentre, observational, cross-sectional, epidemiological study in a sample of 4402 adolescents from 15 schools during the 2015–2016 school year. The participants were aged between 11 and 18 years, and any individuals already diagnosed with AHT were excluded. In addition to the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A), Evaluation of the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED), a lifestyle habits survey, the waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), and body mass index (BMI) were calculated for each participant. Informed Consent was obtained from Parents of the adolescents involved in the current study. The study received approval from the University ethics committee and all procedures were conducted in accordance with the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. Chi-squared, Student t-tests, and ANOVA statistical analyses showed that 653 (14.8%) adolescents had previously undiagnosed HBP and that was significantly associated with male sex (p < 0.001), age over 15 years (p < 0.05), and height, weight, waist circumference, WtHR, BMI, and skipping breakfast. Based on the data we obtained in this study, the modifiable factors that influence HBP in adolescents were WtHR, BMI, and skipping breakfast.
Highlights
The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of high blood pressure (HBP) in adolescents of the Valencian Autonomous Community (VC) in Spain
The European Union (EU) Science Centre reported that production losses due to mortality and morbidity associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) cost the EU 54 billion euros in 2015 and the total cost of providing health care to people with CVD was 45 billion euros[5], Spain accounted for 2% of that c ost[6]
We estimated that 13.8% to 15.9% of adolescents in the VC have HBP
Summary
The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of high blood pressure (HBP) in adolescents of the Valencian Autonomous Community (VC) in Spain. Chi-squared, Student t-tests, and ANOVA statistical analyses showed that 653 (14.8%) adolescents had previously undiagnosed HBP and that was significantly associated with male sex (p < 0.001), age over 15 years (p < 0.05), and height, weight, waist circumference, WtHR, BMI, and skipping breakfast. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are currently the leading cause of death in the world with more people dying every year from a pathology related to cardiovascular health than from any other cause. The European Union (EU) Science Centre reported that production losses due to mortality and morbidity associated with CVDs cost the EU 54 billion euros in 2015 and the total cost of providing health care (including medical care, medications, and lost productivity) to people with CVD was 45 billion euros[5], Spain accounted for 2% of that c ost[6]. The factors that influence CVD can be grouped into genetic and biological factors (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidaemia, or diabetes) whose negative influence is modulated by behavioural factors such as diet, physical activity, and toxic habits (e.g., tobacco or alcohol use), which in turn depend on structural factors including
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
