Blood pressure in children of hypertensive and normotensive parents.

This study was conducted to compare the blood pressure (BP) of children (aged between 6 to 18 years) of hypertensive (n =746) and normotensive parents (n = 2238) in Iran. Blood pressure (BP), weight and height were measured. The mean systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) was significantly higher in children of hypertensive parents than controls in preadolescents (107.4 +/-1: 15.1, 68.7 +/- 1:10.5, 81.1 +/- 1:12.4 vs.100.2 +/- 1:12.3, 61.1 +/- 1:10.1, 74.4 +/- 1:11.8 mmHg, respectively; p <0.05) and adolescents (111.7 +/- 1:14.5,79.2 +/- 1:11.3,90.7 +/- 1:12.1 vs 109.4 +/- 1:14.1,70.4 +/- 1:11.1, 83.5 +/- 1:12.2 mmHg respectively, p<0.05). The mean SBP and DBP in children of hypertensive mothers was significantly higher than controls (SBP: 108.8 +/- 14.2 vs. 104.3 +/- 15.2, 95% CI = 98.2-107.4, P<0.05 and DBP: 72.4 +/- 11.4 vs. 67.6 +/- 11.2, 95% CI = 64.2- 70.1 respectively, p<0.05). Regarding fathers, this difference was significant only for SBP (107.1 +/- l5.4 vs. 104.4 +/- l5.1, 95% CI=99.1-105.7,p<0.05). The mean SBP and DBP of children were higher when both parent being hypertensive than one of them (115.56 +/-1:15.45, 72.15 +/- 1:11.27 vs 106.4 +/- 1:15.31, 67.82 +/- 1:12.47 mmHg respectively, p <0.05). Using logistic regression analysis, SBP and DBP more than 95th percentile in children were significantly associated with mean parental BMI (p <0.05).