Prevalence And Risk Factors Of Hypertension In Children And Adolescents Aged 6-17 Years In Zhangwu County,Liaoning Province

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the overall prevalence of hypertension in children and adolescents aged 6-17 years in rural areas of Zhangwu County,Liaoning Province,and to analyze the main causes of hypertension through the investigation of risk factors.This study may for the follow-up policy formulation and the prevention and treatment of hypertension in children and adolescents.Methods In this study,from September 2021 to December 2021,8713 children aged6-17 were randomly selected from 32 primary and secondary schools in rural areas of Zhangwu County,Liaoning Province by random sampling method.The proportion of normal blood pressure,pre-hypertension,primary hypertension and secondary hypertension in rural children and adolescents was obtained by blood pressure measurement and screening at three time points on different days.To determine hypertension overall prevalence rate in rural children and adolescents from age 6-17 years.Participants who failed to complete the required process of this study or provided incomplete data were excluded,and those who failed to complete all measurements due to internship,leave and other reasons were excluded.Finally,8510 children and adolescents were selected as research objects.The study included physical examination and risk factor investigation.Physical examination data included height,weight,and three blood pressure measurements taken on different days.Each participant completed questionnaires on age,sex,ethnicity,family type,family history of hypertension,dietary salt content,weekly intake of fried foods,weekly intake of sugary beverages or sweets,duration of moderate to vigorous physical activity,maternal passive smoking during pregnancy,alcohol consumption during pregnancy and infant feeding patterns.SPSS 24.0 statistical software was used for data collation and analysis.Quantitative data conforming to normal distribution were described by mean ± standard deviation((?) ± s),and comparison between groups was performed by t test.The discordant distribution was described by median(interquartile spacing),and the rank sum test was used for comparison between groups.Qualitative data were described by component ratio or rate(%),and Chi-square test was used for comparison between groups.The influence factors were analyzed by binary logistic regression,and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Result A total of 8510 primary and secondary school students were enrolled,among which 66.5%(5656)had normal blood pressure.Prehypertension accounted for 13.1%(1112 patients);The primary prevalence of hypertension was 17.9%(1526 persons).The secondary prevalence of hypertension was2.5%(216 subjects).The results of single factor analysis showed that: there were significant differences between age(P<0.001),sex(P<0.001),body mass index(P<0.001),time of medium and high intensity physical activity(P<0.001),maternal passive smoking during pregnancy(P=0.030),dietary salt content(P=0.042)and the prevalence of hypertension(P<0.05).Binary logistic regression analysis showed that overweight and obesity(overweight: OR=2.038,95%CI=1.679-2.474;obesity:OR=1.282,95%CI=1.042-1.577),insufficient time of medium and high intensity physical activity(<30 minutes/day:OR=1.579,95%CI=1.158-1.975;30-60 min/day: OR=1.357,95%CI=1.079-1.774),maternal passive smoking during pregnancy(OR=1.985,95%CI=1.679-2.474),older(10-13 years old:OR=1.563,95%CI=1.169-1.865;14-17 years old:OR=1.976,95%CI=1.583-2.531),high dietary salt content(OR=1.512,95%CI=1.113-1.913)is an independent risk factor for hypertension in children and adolescents.Conclusions This study for the first time conducted a large random sample survey on the prevalence of hypertension among children and adolescents in areas with high prevalence of hypertension in China.The prevalence rate of hypertension in children and adolescents in Zhangwu County,Liaoning Province was as high as20.4%,exceeding the national average of 14.5%,and much higher than that of developed countries such as Europe and America.Overweight,obesity,less than 60 minutes of medium and high intensity physical activity,maternal passive smoking during pregnancy and high dietary salt content are risk factors for hypertension in local children and adolescents.The problem of hypertension in children and adolescents in this rural area has become a severe test that cannot be ignored in the growth of local school-age children.In order to create a good environment for children to grow up,it is necessary to cause the local education,health and other relevant departments to attach great importance and make corresponding policy adjustments.