Family history of arterial hypertension and central adiposity: impact on blood pressure in schoolchildren

Abstract

Background A family history of arterial hypertension is an important risk factor for arterial hypertension. This study aimed to verify the mediating role of high central adiposity in the relationship between family history of arterial hypertension and blood pressure in schoolchildren. Methods Cross-sectional study with 118 schoolchildren of both sexes aged between 11 and 17 years. Weight, height, waist circumference and body mass index z score were verified. Somatic maturation was predicted by age for peak growth velocity. The family history of arterial hypertension was verified and defined as hypertensive schoolchildren with systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure. Mediation analysis was used with linear regression models applied by PROCESS macro for SPSS (version 22.0), with significance p < 0.05. Results It was observed that 34.7% of the students have family history of arterial hypertension, 36% of the girls and 44.2% of the boys have arterial hypertension. In girls, the relationship between waist circumference and systolic blood pressure was direct (β = 0.535 p = 0.005), and those with a family history of arterial hypertension and who had a waist circumference greater than those without a family history of arterial hypertension was significant (β = -5,437 p = 0.009). Likewise, the relationship between family history of arterial hypertension and systolic blood pressure was attenuated when waist circumference was included in the model (β = -5.544; p = 0.103), indicating waist circumference as a mediator with an influence percentage of 19%. For boys, waist circumference is not a mediator of the relationship between family history of arterial hypertension and blood pressure. Conclusions Elevated central adiposity was a mediator of the relationship between family history of arterial hypertension and high blood pressure in girls, indicating the importance of family health strategies in the prevention and management of arterial hypertension in children and adolescents.

Examining the mediating role of muscle quantity in adolescents: associations with adiposity, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, and cardiometabolic risk factors

“…In addition to muscle mass, muscle strength is also an important aspect of physical fitness 14 , 44 , a protective factor of physical and cardiometabolic health both in the adult and elderly population 8 and in children and adolescents 16 , 23 . These studies suggest that both low muscle mass and low muscle strength are contributors to metabolic dysfunction in the pediatric population 25 , as well as early onset of hypertensive measures 26 . Recent evidence focuses on reduction in muscle mass and cardiometabolic changes 16 , 23 , as well as understanding the mediating role of muscle quantity in the relationship between adiposity and bone mineral content 27 .…”

“…In children and adolescents, some authors highlighted the reduction of muscle mass in the relation to excessive fat mass 23 , as well as the "Fat but Fit" interaction between adiposity and physical fitness, which suggests that fitness may attenuate the deleterious effects of excess weight 24 . Therefore, the vicious cycle of reduced muscle mass and increased adiposity contribute to lower relative muscle mass also in adolescents, which can potentiate the inadequate metabolic profile 25 , as well as the early onset of hypertensive measures 26 . Recent studies focus on reduction in muscle quantity and cardiometabolic alterations 16 , 23 , as well as understanding the mediating role of muscle quantity in relation between adiposity and bone mineral content 27 .…”

Associations Between Phenotypes of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity and Incident Hypertension in Young Adulthood

“…55 In addition, independent of BMI and waist circumference, parental history of hypertension is associated with increased odds of hypertension. 41,[56][57][58] Because obesity is a strong risk factor for the development of hypertension, it is essential to tease apart whether the association between family history and the development of hypertension is independent of weight status. Few studies have considered both family history of hypertension and obesity.…”