Blood pressure profiles and hypertension in iraqi primary school children

To elucidate blood pressure (BP) levels and the prevalence of hypertension (HT); as well as to address some epidemiological variables which contributes to BP and suggest certain primordial guidelines for control and prevention of childhood HT. A cross-sectional study recruiting 1427 (46.1% boys versus 53.9% girls) school aged students (6-12 years) from 8 primary schools in Baghdad during the period November 2001 to May 2002. The BP readings were plotted adopting principles of the 1996 American Task Force on High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents. For both genders, the combined mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 106.66 +/- 9.03 mm Hg and combined mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 67.09 +/- 7.98 mm Hg. There was no significant statistical differences noted with respect to SBP and DBP among boys and girls except at the age range of 10-12 years, where girls manifest higher SBP (p