Diagnosis and prevalence of high blood pressure in children aged under 19 in Colima City.

Objective. To assess the prevalence of high blood pressure among young chil dren. Material and methods. This is a cross-sectional study, conducted in 1 992 in Colima City, Mexico. Blood pressure readings were obtained from 400 children aged under 19. Statistical analysis consisted of calculation of me ans, variance, and Anova by group age. Association between age and blood pr essure was assessed with correlation and determination coefficients. Compar isons by sex were made using Student's t, F, Mann-Whitney's U, and Z tests. Percentile 95(th) was used to define normal figures. Results. A lineal cor relation coefficient was found and confirmed by the determination coefficie nt. Groups where this association was statistically significant at p<0.01 w ere: a) children aged under 2; b) children from 2 to 13 years of age; and c ) those over 13 years of age. High blood pressure figures for each group we re: a) 92/50 mm/Hg; 110/70 mml Hg; and 133/84 mm/Hg, respectively. Conclusi ons. The prevalence of high blood pressure in younger children may be 8% fo r systolic pressure and 9% for diastolic pressure.