AUTHOR=Hu Jia , Ding Ziyao , Han Di , Hai Bo , Lv Huiling , Yin Jieyun , Shen Hui , Gu Aihua , Yang Haibing 

TITLE=Prevalence of hypertension and related risk factors among children and adolescents at three separate visits: A large school-based study in China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.976317

DOI=10.3389/fped.2022.976317

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=Objective: We aimed to demonstrate the characteristics of hypertension at three separate visits and its risk factors among children and adolescents based a large school-based study in China.
Methods: Based on a large-scale ongoing school-based monitoring program conducted in Suzhou, China, 59 679 children and adolescents aged 7-17 years from 60 public schools were enrolled during 2020 to 2021. Height, weight and blood pressure (BP) were measured. Additional BP would be measured for hypertensive students at least two weeks later. Confirmed hypertension was defined as simultaneously BP meeting above or equal to 95th percentile for age, sex, and height at three separate visits. Odds ratio (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by logistic regression to identify risk factors for hypertension.
Results: Prevalence of hypertension at three separate visits were 20.4%, 6.3%, and 3.1%, respectively. Prevalence of confirmed isolated systolic hypertension, isolated diastolic hypertension, and systolic and diastolic hypertension were 1.9%, 0.3%, and 0.9%, respectively. Hypertension prevalence for stage 1 and 2 were 2.6% and 0.6%. Different hypertension prevalence were found among various age and gender groups. Boys (OR, 1.137 [95% CI, 1.033–1.251]), high age (OR, 3.326 [95% CI, 2.950–3.751]), urban residents (OR, 1.579 [95% CI, 1.417–1.760]), high socioeconomic status (OR, 1.156 [95% CI, 1.039–1.286]) and BMI category including overweight (1.883[95%CI, 1.665–2.129]), obesity (4.049[95% CI, 3.625–4.523]) and thinness (OR, 0.457 [95% CI, 0.306–0.683]) were associated with confirmed hypertension.
Conclusion: A single BP measurement would overestimate hypertension prevalence, about 3% Chinese children were hypertensive, early and effective intervention around risk factors for hypertension should be taken.