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. 2015 Jan;64(1):17-22.
doi: 10.7727/wimj.2015.114. Epub 2015 Apr 28.

The Prevalence of Elevated Blood Pressure in Adolescents in Nassau, The Bahamas

C Conliffe  1   2 , M Frankson  1 , F Smith  1   3 , C Hanna-Mahase  1   3 , M Oriakhi  4
Affiliations

The Prevalence of Elevated Blood Pressure in Adolescents in Nassau, The Bahamas

C Conliffe et al. West Indian Med J. 2015 Jan.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Objective: To determine the prevalence of elevated blood pressure (EBP) in Bahamian adolescents.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey employing a self-administered questionnaire, and concurrently obtaining anthropometric measurements, was conducted involving selected grades 9, 10 and 11 students of all targeted public high schools in The Bahamas.

Results: The mean age of the 785 participants was 14.6 (± 1.153) years, and 87.6% were Bahamian. The prevalence of elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 4.7% and 6.6% for elevated diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Elevated blood pressure prevalence was 8.9%. Elevated blood pressure was more common among grade 9 students (12-14-year olds) who had the largest proportion of EBP (55.7%). Both SBP and DBP increased with age in the males. Overall, students' prevalence of overweight/obesity was 32.2% (14.4% overweight, 17.8% obese). Body mass index (BMI), number of days per week eating fast food and perception of body weight were predictive of EBP. Body mass index, age and perception of body weight were found to be predictive of SBP (βBMI = 0.25, p < 0.001; βAge = 0.14, p < 0.001; βWeight = 0.08, p < 0.037) and DBP (βDBP = 0.192, p < 0.001). Overweight/obese students were 2.7 times more likely to have EBP. Elevated blood pressure was markedly associated with BMI, family history of hypertension and parents' overweight/obese status.

Conclusion: The estimated prevalence of EBP in adolescent school children in New Providence, Bahamas, was comparable with neighbouring nations.

Objetivo:: Determinar la prevalencia de la presión arterial elevada (PAE) en los adolescentes de las Bahamas.

Métodos:: Se realizó una encuesta transversal empleando un cuestionario autoadministrado, obteniendo a la par medidas antropométricas, entre estudiantes de los grados 9, 10 y 11 seleccionados de todas las escuela secundarias públicas de las Bahamas. El análisis estadístico estableció una correlación entre la presión arterial y el índice de masa corporal (IMC), la edad, y el género.

Resultados:: La edad promedio de los 785 participantes fue 14.6 (± 1.153) años, y un 87.6% eran bahameños. La prevalencia de la hipertensión sistólica (PAS) fue 4.7%, y 6.6% para la hipertensión diastólica (PAD). La prevalencia de la presión arterial fue 8.9%. La presión arterial elevada fue más común entre los estudiantes del grado 9 (12 a 14-años de edad), los cuales presentaban la mayor proporción de PAE (55.7%). Tanto la PAS como la PAD aumentaban en relación con la edad en los varones. En general, la prevalencia del sobrepeso/obesidad entre los estudiantes fue 32.2% (14.4% sobrepeso, 17.8% obesos). El índice de masa corporal, el número de días por semana consumiendo comidas rápidas, y la percepción del peso corporal, fueron elementos predictivos de la PAE. Se halló que el índice de masa corporal, la edad, y la percepción del peso corporal eran factores predictivos de la PAS (βIMC = 0.25, p < 0.001; βedad = 0.14, p < 0.001; βpeso = 0.08, p < 0.037) y PAD (βPAD = 0.192, p < 0.001. Los estudiantes con sobrepeso u obesos presentaban 2.7 veces más probabilidades de tener PAE. La presión arterial elevada estuvo marcadamente asociada con el IMC, los antecedentes familiares de hipertensión, y el estatus de sobrepeso u obesidad de los progenitores.

Conclusión:: La prevalencia estimada de PAE en adolescentes escolares en Nueva Providencia, Bahamas, era similar a la de las naciones vecinas.

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