Prevalence of Hypertension and Its Association with the Anthropometric Indices in Adolescent Girls in Rafsanjan, 2007

Prevalence of hypertension has increased with the onset of epidemic of obesity in childhood. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension and its association with the anthropometric indices in adolescent girls in Rafsanjan. Material s and In this cross sectional study, 1221 adolescent girls were, randomly, selected using two stage sampling method in 2007. The individual questionnaire was completed, and blood pressure and anthropometric indice s were measured. Hypertension and overweightness were detected using the fourth report on the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure in children and adolescents (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute) and CDC charts criteria, respectively. Student's t test, X2 Pierson correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. Results of this study demonstrated that prevalence of high systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the girls was 10. 2% % and 9.2%, respectively. Mean ± standard deviation of SBP between normal and abnormal weight respondents was significantly different (109.12 ± 10.36 versus 115.66 ± 9.23 mmHg, (p=0.001). Mean ± standard deviation of DBP between the normal and over weight respondents had also significant differences (60.54 ± 11.2 versus 67.14 ± 9.85 mmHg p=0.001). There was a significant association between both SBP (p=0.001, r= 0.409) and DBP (p=0.001, r= 0.42) with BMI. One point two percent of the girls had abdominal obesity. Findings showed that hypertension and overweightness are common health problems among adolescent girls in Rafsanjan. Interventional programs are recommended.