Hypertensive measures in schoolchildren: Risk of central obesity and protective effect of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity

Abstract

Background: The proportion of arterial hypertension (AH) has increased in children and adolescents and is associated with several comorbidities. Objective: To verify the association of arterial hypertension with central and general obesity as well as according to the level of physical activity in schoolchildren. Methods: 336 children and adolescents aged 11 to 17 participated in the study. Height, body weight, waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure (BP) were measured. The body mass index z-score (BMI-z) was calculated. The level of physical activity was assessed by the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) according to the practice of moderate-to-vigorous physical activities (AF-mv). Students with systolic (SBP) and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) higher than the 95th percentile according to sex, age and height or ≥120/80 were considered hypertensive. Statistical tests of t-Student, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney and binary logistic regression model were used, considering the significance level of p<0.05. Results: It was found that 40.5% of the students had AH, 35.11% were overweight (12.5% obese), 13.39% had high WC and 40.2% were considered insufficiently active in AF-mv. The chances of AH were related to high WC (OR = 6.11; 95% CI: 2.59¬–14.42) and overweight (OR = 2.91; 95% CI: 1.76–4.79). In addition, adolescents who practiced AF-mv had a lower risk of high DBP (OR = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.15–0.72). Conclusion: Central obesity was the best predictor of AH in children and adolescents, as well as general obesity and males. The practice of AF-mv demonstrated a protective effect on high DBP in schoolchildren.