A survey on blood pressure in schoolchildren aged ۷ to ۱۱ years in Tehran in years ۲۰۰۲-۲۰۰۳

Background: Hypertension is one of the most important risk factors in the etiology of cardiovascular and renal diseases both in children and adults. Due to the absence of a blood pressure (BP) normograph in children living in Tehran, this study was conducted in Autumn ۲۰۰۲ to determine the BP status in children ۷-۱۱ years old and its relationship with age, sex, height and weight. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on ۱۰۶۱ children (boys and girls). The age, sex, height, weight and systolic and diastolic BP were measured according to the standard procedures, then ۵۰th, ۷۵th, ۹۰th and ۹۵th percentiles of BP were tabulated. Results: The data showed that systolic and diastolic BP increased by height and weight. Also, the ۹۰th and ۹۵th percentiles of systolic BP was equal in boys and girls aged ۷ and ۸ years however, it was higher in girls aged ۹, ۱۰ and ۱۱ years. The diastolic BP at ۹۰th and ۹۵th percentile was equal in boys and girls aged ۷, ۸ and ۹, but it was higher in girls aged ۱۰ and ۱۱ years. When BP percentile of American children was compared to the Iranians it was found that boys and girls living in Tehran had a lower systolic and diastolic BP than that of Americans. Conclusion: These data show that, in addition to age and sex, other factors such as height, weight, race, nutrition, genetics and environment have influence on normal range of BP in children. Therefore, each society should have their own standard BP normograph for their populations. Similar studies with more samples are highly recommended.

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KEYWORDS: Children’s blood pressure ، Percentile ، Students ، Hypertension ، واژگان کلیدی: فشار خون کودکان ، صدک ، دانشآموزان ، پرفشاری خون