BLOOD PRESSURE PROFILES AMONG APPARENTLY HEALTHY PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN KANO METROPOLIS, KANO STATE

Abstract

Hypertension is defined by the 4th report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation and Treatment of High
Blood Pressure as average Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and/or Diastolic blood pressure
(DBP) that is greater than or equal to the 95th percentile for sex, age, and height on three or
more occasions.
Age, sex, family history of hypertension, environmental factors and anthropometric indices
are known to affect arterial blood pressure levels and therefore, it may not be appropriately to
apply uniform standards to diverse populations.
There is therefore the need to measure the blood pressure levels of children in different
populations and localities in order to establish the appropriate standards and also to facilitate
early and effective interventions.
This work was a cross sectional prospective study of Blood pressure levels of 2000
apparently healthy children in Kano metropolis aged 6-14 years carried out between February
and October 2013. The study was conducted to determine the blood pressure profiles and the
point prevalence of elevated BP, and the relationship of BP with age, BMI and parental
socioeconomic status.
Blood pressure data of 942 boys and 1058 girls were analysed to study the pattern of systolic
blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure with age, BMI and parental socioeconomic status.
Blood pressure was measured with mercury sphygmomanometer using standard technique.
The first and fifth phases of korotkoff sounds were taken as indicative of systolic blood
pressure and diastolic blood pressure respectively. The weight, height, and pulse rate were
also measured.

The mean systolic blood pressures (SBP) among males and females were 93.17 ± 8.70 and
94.28 ± 9.06 mmHg while the mean diastolic blood pressures (DBP) were 59.1 ± 6.9 and
60.3 ± 6.9 mmHg respectively. Using criteria by the 4th report 3 percent had elevated blood
pressure in this study. However, the prevalence rose to 5.8 percent, when high BP was
defined as values > 2 standard deviations above the mean BP for age.
The blood pressure tends to rise with age, there was a significant positive association between
SBP(r = 0.565), DBP (r = 0.435) and weight. Also between SBP (r = 0.500), DBP (r = 0.38)
and height. Finally between SBP ( r = 0.444), DBP (r = 0.376) and BMI. There was no
significant relationship between parental socioeconomic status and blood pressure (SBP
r=0.027, DBP r=0.043).
In conclusion, the overall prevalence rate of elevated blood pressure was 3 percent. There
was a positive correlation of SBP/DBP with age, weight, height and BMI. No significant
association was found between parental socioeconomic status and blood pressure.
It is suggested that blood pressure of school children should be routinely measured and that
health workers should be educated on the importance of routine blood pressure measurement
in children.

BLOOD PRESSURE PROFILES AMONG APPARENTLY HEALTHY PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN KANO METROPOLIS, KANO STATE