Objective: The objective of this study is to further explore the difference between elevated blood pressure (EBP), elevated pulse pressure (EPP), and elevated mean arterial pressure (EMAP) and obesity in Chinese school-age children by sex.Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 935 children between 7 and 12 years old. Overweight and obesity were defined by body mass index and body composition. The multivariate logistic regression and the adjusted population attributable risk were used to assess the effects of obesity on pre-EBP/EBP, EPP, and EMAP. The interactions were used to identify the modification of obese on the relationship between related indicators of blood pressure and height or age.Results: The average age of the children included in the study was 10. Boys with overweight and obesity had higher pre-EBP/EBP, EPP, and EMAP (p < 0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that overweight and obesity had a greater impact on BP and MAP than PP, especially in boys [odds ratio (OR) > 1]. Pre-EBP/EBP in 79% of boys and 76% of girls could be attributable to the visceral fat level. The interaction between BP, PP, MAP, and height or age was modestly increased in children with overweight and obesity, especially in boys.Conclusions: Independent of age and height, obesity not only increases blood pressure, it also increases mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure, and this effect is more pronounced in boys.
Background
The effects of overweight and obesity on blood pressure in children may differ by sex. Previous studies have only shown the association between overweight and obesity and elevated blood pressure (EBP). The objective of this study is to further explore the association between elevated pulse pressure (EPP) and elevated mean arterial pressure (EMAP) and obesity in Chinese school-age children by gender.
Methods
We performed a cross-sectional study of 935 children between seven and twelve years old. Overweight and obesity were defined by body mass index and body composition. The adjusted population attributable risk was used to assess the effects of obesity on EBP, EPP and EMAP.
Results
The interaction of height or age and obesity was used to identify the effect of obesity on blood pressure independent of age and height. Boys with overweight and obesity had higher EBP, EPP and EMAP (P < 0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that overweight and obesity had a greater impact on BP and MAP than PP, especially in boys [Odds ratio (OR) > 1]. EBP in 79% of boys and 76% of girls could be attributable to the visceral fat level. The interaction between blood pressure and height or age was modestly increased in children with overweight and obesity, especially in boys.
Conclusions
Independent of age and height, the effect of obesity on blood pressure was greater in boys than girls. Moreover, the effect was mainly on small arteries rather than large arteries.
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