Prevalence of high blood pressure among schoolchildren from Córdoba, Argentina, and its relation to socioeconomic status.

INTRODUCTION: Prior studies conducted in Argentina found variable prevalence rates of high blood pressure (HBP) among children using different measurement methods. The objective of this study was to know the prevalence of HBP among schoolchildren from the city of Cordoba and its relation to sex, nutritional status, socioeconomic status (SES), and level of maternal education. POPULATION AND METHODS: Blood pressure measurements and information on SES, level of maternal education, and body mass index of schoolchildren from the city of Cordoba, Argentina, were obtained. HBP was defined as systolic or diastolic blood pressure levels that are greater than or equal to the 95th percentile for a given age, sex, and height percentile at three consecutive measurements on separate days. RESULTS: A total of 1531 boys and girls participated; their average age was 10.6 years. Fifty-five children had HBP. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels showed a significant association with obesity (p= 0.001), but not with age (p= 0.87), sex (systolic: p= 0.48; diastolic: p= 0.71) or SES (systolic: p= 0.07; diastolic: p= 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HBP in a sample of schoolchildren from Argentina was 3.7%. It showed a significant association with obesity, but not with SES.