Study of Prevalence of Hypertension in School Going Children in Urban Delhi: A Cross Sectional Study

Authors: Hakim IS* , Rajeev S , Anwar S , Sanjeev Adocirfanshahi512@gmail.com , Padmawati S , Virbhan B , Lokesh CG , Ravi G and Vinod S

DOI: 10.23880/eij-16000105

Volume 2, Issue 1

Abstract

Background: Early diagnosis of hypertension (HT) is an important strategy in its control. Previous studies have documented that hypertension may begin in adolescence, perhaps even in childhood. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and risk factors among school going children in Delhi, India. 

Materials and Methods: School going children aged between 5 to 15 years of 10 different schools were selected and blood pressure measurements were taken. Prehypertension is considered when blood pressure is more than 90th percentile according to NIH 2005 guidelines. 

Results: Total prevalence of prehypertension in the study was 3.1%. The prevalence in boys was 3.2% and in girls was 2.9%. Prevalence of obesity in prehypertension was 8.0% against normotensives 1.1% (P<0.05). Prevalence of hypertension in family members of prehypertensives was 18.6% and in normotensive 13.1% (P=0.1). Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in family members of prehypertensives was 23.4% and 13.7% in normotensives (P<0.05). 

Conclusion: Prevalence of pre hypertension was 3.1% in the study subjects. Obesity and family history of diabetes mellitus was found to be significantly associated with childhood hypertension.

Keywords: Hypertension; Prehypertensives; Normotensives; Parenchymal; Renovascular

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