High Blood Pressure and Related Factors among Nursery School Children in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Introduction: High blood pressure is often considered a disease of old age; but the precursors are sometimes present in young children long before clinical manifestation of hypertension in adulthood. Essential hypertension is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis, heart disease, stroke and chronic kidney disease. There is no cure for hypertension, as such, identifying the risk factors in childhood and providing appropriate intervention early will impact positively on the morbidity and mortality indices of the disease; and, should form the basis of primary preventive strategy.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and factors related to high blood pressure in nursery school children in Port Harcourt.

Materials and Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant aspects of history from parents/caregivers of nursery school children (aged 2 to 5 years). Anthropometry (Weight and height) was done, and BMI calculated. Basal blood pressure (BP) was subsequently measured and cross-comparisons made.

Results: There were 710 pupils, 365(51.4%) males and 345(48.6%) females. Mean systolic and diastolic BP was 93.4±10.8 mmHg and 58.8±8.0 mmHg respectively. Systolic and diastolic BP increased with increasing BMI. Prevalence of high BP was 10.9%. High BP was more among 3 year olds (15.9%) and obese pupils (25%). Pupils in social class II (13.7%), history of prematurity (12.5%), low birth weight (13%), birth asphyxia (14.3%) and positive family history of hypertension, had a higher representation among those with high BP.

Conclusion: High BP is prevalent among nursey school children in Port Harcourt and factors related include obesity, family history of hypertension, low social class, prematurity, and low birth weight.