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BMC Pediatrics
Published in: BMC Pediatrics 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Association of neck circumference and high blood pressure in children and adolescents: a case–control study

Authors: Renata Kuciene, Virginija Dulskiene, Jurate Medzioniene

Published in: BMC Pediatrics | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

High blood pressure (BP) is a serious, common and growing global public health problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between high NC (neck circumference) alone and in combinations with BMI (body mass index), WC (waist circumference), and high BP among Lithuanian children and adolescents aged 12 to 15 years.

Methods

An epidemiological case–control study was performed between May 2012 and November 2013. NC, WC, hip circumference (HC), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), body height, weight, and BP were measured. The participants with high BP (≥90th percentile) were screened on two separate occasions. Data on NC, WC, HC, MUAC, BMI, body adiposity index (BAI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and BP were analyzed in 1947 children and adolescents aged 12–15 years. Age- and sex-adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for the associations were estimated using multivariate logistic regression models.

Results

The prevalence rates of prehypertension (BP ≥90th– < 95th percentile) and hypertension (BP ≥95th percentile) was 6.3 and 25.1 %, respectively. The overall prevalence of high NC (if NC was in the ≥90th percentile), overweight/obesity (as measured by BMI), and abdominal overweight/obesity (if WC was in the ≥75th percentile) were 14.3, 15.8, and 13 %, respectively. After adjustment for age and sex, NC in the ≥90th percentile was significantly associated with an increased risk of elevated BP (prehypertension: aOR = 2.99; 95 % CI, 1.88–4.77; hypertension aOR = 4.05; 95 % CI, 3.03–5.41, and prehypertension/hypertension aOR = 3.75; 95 % CI, 2.86–4.91), compared to the participants with NC in the <90th percentile. Overweight/obesity and abdominal overweight/obesity were also significantly associated with an elevated BP. The combinations including both risk factors (high NC with overweight/obesity, and high NC with abdominal overweight/obesity) showed higher aORs than those with either risk factor alone.

Conclusions

High NC alone—but particularly in combinations with overweight/obesity and abdominal overweight/obesity—was associated with an increased risk of high BP.
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Metadata
Title
Association of neck circumference and high blood pressure in children and adolescents: a case–control study
Authors
Renata Kuciene
Virginija Dulskiene
Jurate Medzioniene
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pediatrics / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2431
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-015-0444-2

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