Anthropometric predictors of systolic and diastolic blood pressure considering intersexual differences in a group of selected schoolchildren.

Objectives: Although the association between anthropometric parameters and blood pressure has been established for adults, the relationship for children has not been thoroughly studied in Slovakia. Present study investigates the association between anthropometric parameters and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the group of randomly selected schoolchildren.

Methods: Examinations were conducted as a cross-sectional study with 760 schoolchildren from Eastern Slovakia, 381 boys and 379 girls. The blood pressure evaluation included sphygmomanometer technique (seated, 3 times repeated) measurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP; DBP). Anthropometric measurements included: body weight, height, circumference of waist, hip and chest, BMI, WHR (waist-hip ratio), fat skinfolds measurement, triceps skinfold, and derivation of body fat percentage. The parents' questionnaires incorporated basic demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the family, reported BMI of father and mother, and child's birth-weight and birth-length. Statistical analysis included Student's t-test gender differences in measured parameters, partial Pearson's correlations and linear regression model of the impact of body parameters Z-scores on SBP and DPB.

Results: Statistical analysis confirmed gender difference in basic anthropometric parameters. Pearson's correlations revealed highly significant relationship of anthropometric indices to SBP compared to DBP. Correlations of anthropometric parameters with SBP and DPB were more significant for boys compared to girls. Linear regression analysis showed that the highest impact on SBP and DBP had Z-score of BMI, followed by weight and height. Z-score of body weight has statistical impact on SBP and DBP in all group and group of boys (p < 0.001), lower significance was in DBP of girls (p < 0.01). Similar results were obtained for Z-score of height and BMI for SBP and DBP in both total group and group of boys on level p < 0.001. Z-score for BMI and height in DBP has lower statistical significance.

Conclusions: Linear regression model confirmed higher statistical relationship of SBP and DBP in the group of boys compared to the group of girls. SBP correlations and linear regression model of anthropometric parameters revealed more significant outputs compared to DPB. The results confirmed the fact that we have to consider anthropometric indices in paediatric blood pressure evaluation.