Epidemiological study of blood pressure in school children (5-14 years) in Kadapa

Abstract

Background measurement of blood pressure is not routinely employed in our country in various health checkup programs and studies pertaining to BP of school going children are inadequate and do not have any percentile chart relating BP to height, weight, so as to determine the age related percentile. Hence, we want to establish norms for BP in school children. The present study was conducted on 1215 children in the age group of 5-14 year. Various schools of Kadapa city were selected by systemic sample technique. Every child in the class was given a questionnaire designed to obtain information regarding family history of hypertension, Myocardial infarction in the parents. The mean value of systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased with age in both sexes. The prevalence of hypertension was 2.6% in boys and 2.5% in girls. Anthropometric variables like height and weight showed positive correlation with systolic as well as diastolic blood pressure. In school health programmes apart from routine standard medical examination the recording of blood pressure should be compulsory procedure.