OBJECTIVE: Early detection of hypertension among school children, identification of exact etiology of secondary hypertension and find possible associations and influence of age, sex and anthropometric measures.
INTRODUCTION: Early diagnosis of hypertension in children and adolescents is of paramount importance. One rationale for screening for hypertension in children and adolescents is that early identification of primary hypertension could lead to interventions to reduce blood pressure during childhood and adolescence, resulting in a reduced risk for cardiovascular events. (8, 9). Measurement of blood pressure is a cost-effective, noninvasive, and relatively accurate method to identify pediatric hypertension. (2)
STUDY DESIGN: Efforts were made to examine all children in the age group 6-12 years in each selected school. The absentees could not be examined. The non-responder rate varied from 1-2% in various schools. The study sample comprised two schools covering about 300 children of whom 156 were boys and 144 were girls.