Blood pressure and related cardiovascular disease risk factors in 6-18 year-old students in Italy

Objectives: The aims of this study were to provide data on blood pressure (BP) levels, to measure prevalence of high-normal or high BP and to identify a set of conditions that may predict high BP (HBP) in a population of children and adolescents in Italy. Methods: Arandom sample of students 6–18 years old attending randomly selected schools in Catanzaro, Italy,was recruited. All students completed a questionnaire on their health and on health behaviours, such as physical activity, diet, drinking and smoking. Blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Results: Of the 603 subjects examined, 12.8% had high-normal BP, 3.5% hypertension (HTN) and 11.1% were obese. High-normal or high diastolic BP (DBP) was significantly more likely in older subjects with a higher BMI, in those with a smoker mother and in preterm children, whereas high-normal or high systolic BP (SBP) was significantly more likely to be found in older subjects with a higher BMI and in those who had at least one parent with HTN. High-normal or high DBP or SBP were significantly predicted by BMI and age. Conclusions: Interventions should focus at reducing obesity and encouraging proper dietary habits, sufficient exercise and cessation of smoking habit in parents too, especially in children with a family history of HTN.