Author/Authors :
Özanli, İsmail Kars State Hospital - Department of Pediatrics, Turkey , Tülpar, Sebahat Bakırköy Dr Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital - Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Turkey , Yılmaz, Yunus Kafkas University - Medical Faculty - Department of Pediatrics, Turkey , Yıldız, Fatih Erzurum Region Training and Research Hospital - Department of Pediatrics, Turkey
Abstract :
Objective: The prevalence of hypertension in childhood and adolescence is gradually increasing. We aimed to investigate the blood pressure (BP) values of children aged 7-18 years. Methods: This study was conducted in a total of 3375 (1777 females, 1598 males) children from 27 schools. Blood pressures of children were measured using sphygmomanometer appropriate to arm circumference. Results: A positive relationship was found between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and the body weight, height, age and body mass index (BMI) in male and female children. SBP was higher in males than females after the age of 13. DBP was higher in males than the females after the age of 14. The mean annual increase of SBP was 2.06 mmHg in males and 1.54 mmHg in females. The mean annual increase of DBP was 1.52 mmHg in males and 1.38 mmHg in females. Conclusion: In this study, we identified the threshold values for blood pressure in children between the age of 7 and 18 years in Erzurum province. It is necessary to combine and evaluate data obtained from various regions for the identification of BP percentiles according to the age, gender and height percentiles of Turkish children.
