FACTORS AFFECTING BLOOD PRESSURE IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN KASHMAR, IRAN

Changes in blood pressure are of special importance in ensuring children's health. Various factors affect blood pressure in them. The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting blood pressure in children and adolescents.

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 1282 students aged 7 to 12 years were studied by cluster and random sampling methods from 49 schools in Kashmar city, Iran. After measuring blood pressure, weight, pulse rate, height, and BMI and collecting demographic and medical information of the research samples, the obtained data were evaluated in SPSS software ver. 21 using analysis of variance test.

Five hundred thirty-six boys and 746 girls participated in this study. Gender had an effect on diastolic and systolic blood pressure at all ages from 7 to 12 years (p=0.0001). The height, pulse rate, weight and BMI had an effect on blood pressure; although there was no significant relationship between height and systolic and diastolic blood pressure at the age of 7 years (p=0.379) and no significant relationship between height and systolic blood pressure at the age of 12 (p=0.239). Family history of high blood pressure had an effect on diastolic blood pressure only at the age of 8 (p=0.028).

Factors such as gender, weight, pulse rate, height, BMI and family history of hypertension were effective on blood pressure of children and adolescents. Considering the differences between the results of this research and other studies, their use in the field of regional prevention of high blood pressure is recommended.