Pediatric Blood Pressures Hold Steady as Prevalence of Obesity Increases

The Bogalusa Heart Study revealed that from 1974 to 1993, secular trends in blood pressure did not parallel the increasing prevalence of obesity

To examine if blood pressure (BP) levels in children have increased in parallel with the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity, researchers analyzed 24,000 BP readings from 11,500 children (age range, 5–17 years; 40% black) in the Bogalusa Heart Study (Louisiana). BP readings were collected using a standardized protocol (right arm, sitting BP using mercury sphygmomanometer with optimal bladder cuff width) during seven cross-sectional examinations conducted between 1974 and 1993. High BP was defined as either systolic BP (SBP) or diastolic BP (DBP) readings ≥90th percentile for age, sex, and height from the Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents.

During the 2-decade st…

Reviewing Author

Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD

Disclosures

EquityMedtronic; Express Scripts; Johnson & Johnson; Merck

Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD

Disclosures

EquityMedtronic; Express Scripts; Johnson & Johnson; Merck

Pediatric Blood Pressures Hold Steady as Prevalence of Obesity Increases

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Reviewing Author