[Blood pressure control and arterial hypertension in children and adolescents from a rural population in Argentina: preliminary data from Vela Proyect].

Hypertension can start at an early age, however there are few data about blood pressure control in rural students in Argentina. Proyecto Vela is a survey about cardiovascular risk factors in the rural population of Maria Ignacia Vela, Argentina. We evaluated blood pressure levels, prevalence of arterial hypertension, sedentary lifestyle, overweight, and obesity in 331 children and adolescent students. In 70% of the subjects the blood pressure was measured for the first time. Prevalence of arterial hypertension was 4.3% in adolescents. Pre-hypertension was detected in 1.9% and 1.7% of children and adolescents, respectively. The prevalence of smoking, sedentary lifestyle, overweight or obesity was 2.4%, 50% and 23.8% respectively. There was association (p <0.05) between hypertension and sedentary lifestyle. In our population the evaluation of blood pressure in adolescents is not a routine procedure. Prevalence of hypertension was low but these data show the importance of blood pressure controls and the need of official programs to modify sedentary lifestyle.