Blood pressure during adolescence: A study among Belgian adolescents selected from a high cardiovascular risk population

Introduction: the Belgian province of Luxembourg has a high incidence of cardiovascular (CV) disease according to the MONICA register. Surveys conducted in adults and children have also found high CV risk factor levels in this province. Design: cross-sectional study. Objective of the present study: to collect data about blood pressure (BP) and its determinants in adolescents from this high CV risk population and to analyse their relationship. Participants: 1526 adolescents (12-17 years) in 24 secondary schools of the province. Results: mean systolic BP levels were 125 mm Hg (sd = 12 mm Hg) and 122 mm Hg (sd = 11 mm Hg) for boys and girls, respectively. Mean diastolic BP was equal to 74 mm Hg (sd = 10 mm Hg) in both genders. Systolic BP increased with age and differed significantly between genders from 15 years onwards. Body fatness indices increased with age except waist-to-hip ratio in girls and triceps skinfold in boys. Regression models including age, anthropometric indices and physical activity explained a small percentage of BP variance (for systolic BP, r(2) = 0.21 and 0.12 for boys and girls, respectively). Weight was the first parameter related to BP in correlation and regression analyses. Conclusions: this study showed high BP and body fatness indices in adolescents from a high CV risk population. The model under study showed a moderate relationship between body fatness and BP. This finding suggests other influences as a genetic component to account for the high levels observed.