Blood pressure distribution and its relation to anthropometric measurements among school children in Aligarh

• Published in: Indian journal of public health Vol. 55; no. 2; pp. 121 - 124
• Main Authors: Durrani, Anisa M, Waseem, Fatima
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01-04-2011; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age Distribution; Age groups; Anthropometric measurements; Anthropometry; Blood pressure; Blood Pressure - physiology; Body Height - physiology; Body measurements; Body Weight - physiology; Child; Children; Children & youth; Correlation analysis; Correlation coefficient; Correlation coefficients; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographic aspects; Female; Gender; Gender differences; Girls; Health risk assessment; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - epidemiology; India - epidemiology; Male; Measurement; Mercury; Pressure distribution; Prevalence; Prognosis; Risk factors; School children; Sex Distribution; Sexes; Statistical analysis; Stress concentration; Weighing machines; Weight; India
• ISSN: 0019-557X; 2229-7693
• DOI: 10.4103/0019-557X.85246

A cross-sectional study among 701 school children (12-16 years) was conducted in Aligarh to find out the prevalence of hypertension and to correlate school going adolescent's blood pressure with age, sex, height and weight. The weight was taken by a standardized weighing machine while height was measured using a standard stediometer. Blood pressure measurements were taken by a mercury sphygmomanometer. The distribution of blood pressure by anthropometric characteristics were studied. Mean, standard deviation and correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis. The overall prevalence of hypertension was found to be 9.4%. Blood pressure of both gender appear to have positive correlation with anthropometric characteristics. Study recommends that children must be screened regularly for blood pressure so that remedial measure can be initiated as early as possible.