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Longitudinal Assessment of Blood Pressure in School-Aged Children: A 3-Year Follow-Up Study

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of abnormal blood pressure in a population of school children during a 3-year follow-up period and its relationship with obesity. Anthropometric and blood pressure data were collected from a population of Italian school children during three consecutive years. During each year blood pressure measurements were repeated three times, at intervals of 1 week. A total of 564 school-children [311 boys; mean (SD) age 8.8 ± 1.4 years] were recruited. During each year, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased from visit 1 to visit 3 (p < 0.001). This was associated with a decline in the percentage of prehypertension/hypertension from visit 1 to visit 3. An abnormal blood pressure value in at least one study visit was found in 8.8–17 % of children, whereas the prevalence of hypertension at all three study visits was between 5.2 and 7.8 %, and that of prehypertension at all three visits was between 2.8 and 3.8 %. High blood pressure was more frequent in obese children. In this population of school children the percentage of prehypertension/hypertension remarkably varied when based on one versus three annual assessments, thus emphasizing the importance of repeated measurement before making a diagnosis of abnormal blood pressure. Adiposity was confirmed to be a determinant of high blood pressure.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all study participants, their families and the personnel of the schools participating to the study. M.L.M. is the recipient of the 2014 “L’Oréal Italia per le Donne e la Scienza” (For Women in Science) fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, University “G. d’Annunzio”, Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 5, 66100, Chieti, Italy

    M. L. Marcovecchio, A. Mohn, N. Polidori & F. Chiarelli

  2. Center of Excellence on Aging, “G. d’Annunzio” University Foundation, Chieti, Italy

    M. L. Marcovecchio, A. Mohn & F. Chiarelli

  3. Pediatric Unit, Prevention and Public Health, ASL FG, Foggia, Italy

    G. Diddi & N. Fuiano

Authors
  1. M. L. Marcovecchio
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  2. A. Mohn
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  3. G. Diddi
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  4. N. Polidori
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  5. F. Chiarelli
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  6. N. Fuiano
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Correspondence to M. L. Marcovecchio.

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Marcovecchio, M.L., Mohn, A., Diddi, G. et al. Longitudinal Assessment of Blood Pressure in School-Aged Children: A 3-Year Follow-Up Study. Pediatr Cardiol 37, 255–261 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-015-1271-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-015-1271-9

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