Anthropometric Predictors of Blood Pressure among Nigerian Children and Adolescents

Elevated blood pressure (Hypertension) is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This cross-sectional study of one thousand (1000) Nigerian children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years in Port-Harcourt City, Rivers State, Nigeria involved the measurements of anthropometric variables such as; height, weight and four skinfold thicknesses as well as blood pressure (systolic and diastolic B.P). Data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 21 and XLSTAT statistical software. Results indicated the mean ages as; 12.2±2.52, 12.6±2.58, and 12.4±2.56 for males, females and the entire sample respectively. Mean body mass index (BMI) for the whole sample, males and females respectively were; 18.24±3.24, 17.64±3.12 and 18.73±3.26. The females showed significantly higher height and weight values and a significantly higher BMI than males (p<0.05). Also, females presented significantly higher values in all skinfold thicknesses than males (p<0.05). There was no sex difference in both blood pressure (p>0.05). Skinfold thicknesses correlated significantly with blood pressure in females (p<0.05) whereas only subscapular and supraspinal skinfolds showed a significant relationship with blood pressure in males. BMI showed a significant positive correlation with blood pressure in both sexes. The relationship between skinfold thickness and blood pressure appeared to be sex-dependent. The study has established that a relationship may exist between adiposity indices of body composition and blood pressure. Hence, these associations can be considered as factors that may influence blood pressure which could lead to the development of hypertension if uncontrolled early before adulthood.

Key Words: Blood pressure, skinfold thicknesses, BMI, Port-Harcourt