Association between excess peripheral, central and general adiposity with high blood pressure in adolescents in southern Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Excess adiposity is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure.Children and adolescents with obesity and hypertension are atgreater risk of morbidity and mortality in adulthood.Objective: To analyze the association between excessperipheral, central and general adiposity with high bloodpressure in adolescents in southern Brazil.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 1,132adolescents (16.50 ± 1.14 years) of both sexes. Measurementswere performed with the oscillometric method using digitalsphygmomanometer, considering high systolic and diastolicblood pressure, values above the 95th percentile for sex andage. Peripheral adiposity (triceps skinfold) and central adiposity(subscapular skinfold) were classified as high from the 90thpercentile of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionreference distribution. For excess general adiposity, tricepsand subscapular skinfold above the 90th percentile weresimultaneously considered. Logistic regression was used with5% significance level.Results: Male adolescents with high peripheral, central andgeneral adiposity were, respectively, 2.43 (95% CI: 1.14;5.19), 3.50 (95% CI: 1.66; 7.41) and 2.47 (95% CI: 1.01;6.18) times more likely of having high SBP. Male adolescentswith excess general adiposity were more likely of developinghigh diastolic blood pressure (OR: 3.31; 95% CI: 1.41; 7.70).Female adolescents with excess central and general adipositywere 4.15 (95% CI: 1.97; 8.77) and 3.30 (95% CI: 1.41; 7.77)times more likely of developing high diastolic blood pressure,respectively.Conclusion: Male adolescents with excess peripheral,central and general adiposity were more likely of having highsystolic blood pressure and high diastolic blood pressurewhen presenting high general adiposity. In addition, femaleadolescents with high excess central and general adipositywere more likely of having high diastolic blood pressure