Abstract

GALARZA CARRION, Gabriela Elizabeth. Adolescence and high blood pressure. Rev Ciencias Médicas [online]. 2014, vol.18, n.5, pp. 743-752. ISSN 1561-3194.

Introduction: the demographic and clinical characteristics of high blood pressure in Guane children and adolescents are unknown. Objective: to characterize high blood pressure in Guane 10-15-year-old adolescents, 2013. Material and method: an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional research was carried out, with an analytical component, on 360 children of the mentioned ages, in which we analyzed: blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking and physical activity, all of which with reference to age and sex. The quantitative variants were defined in percentage absolute and relative frequencies, while association among them was measured by chi-square and Odds Ratio tests at 95% of certitude. Results: there were 175 with normal blood pressure between 10-12 years old, 8 pre-hypertensives aged 13-15 years old. There was a statistically significant prevalence of female patients with normal blood pressure (p=0.008). Obesity increased five times in male patients (p=0.002) and in ages 13-15 years old. There was a significant increase in hypertensive patients aged 13-15 years old, with increase in the waist circumference (p<0.001). Smoking was significantly increased among male patients aged 13-15 years old, while in girls there was a predominance of subtle physical activity (p=0.03). Conclusions: high blood pressure in children with low frequency of presentation shows differences regarding age and sex, with a predominance in male patients and the groups aged 13-15 years old.

Keywords : Adolescent; Hypertension; Risk factors.

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