Screening of Hypertension using Blood Pressure�to�Height Ratio in children living in area of bhuj, kutch, Gujarat, India� A cross�sectional study

Dr. Mehul Sevak; Dr. Monil Shah

Volume : VI, Issue : VIII, August - 2016

Screening of Hypertension using Blood Pressure�to�Height Ratio in children living in area of bhuj, kutch, Gujarat, India� A cross�sectional study

Dr. Mehul Sevak, Dr. Monil Shah

Abstract :

Aim: To test whether blood pressure–to–height ratio (BPHR) can be used to screen for hypertension in children living in bhuj, kutch, Gujarat, India. Methods: Present study was performed on 8 to 16 year school going children in bhuj, kutch, Gujarat by assistant professors attached with Department of Pediatrics, Gujarat Adani institute of medical science, Bhuj,. Data regarding blood pressure and other variables was recorded for 2699 school children between the ages of 10–16 years as a part of a nutritional survey. Results: The optimal thresholds for defining hypertension in boys were 0.76 for systolic BPHR and 0.50 for diastolic BPHR; the respective threshold in girls were 0.80 and 0.52. There was a negative correlation between SBPHR and age, weight and a positive correlation with BMI. In the same way a negative correlation was seen between DBPHR and age, weight and a positive correlation with BMI. Conclusion: BPHR can be used as an effective screening test for diagnosing both hypertension and prehypertension in children aged 10–16 years.