Assessment of risk factors for hypertension and obesity among adolescents

Introduction: The rising trend of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally and their associated mortality and morbidity, with a shift to the younger population is a matter of concern.

Objective: To study the risk factors for hypertension and obesity among adolescents

Design and setting: Hospital based cross sectional study in the paediatric outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care hospital.

Subjects: Adolescents in the age group 10-18 years presenting to the paediatric OPD from 13^th January 2013 to 14^th December 2014.

Results: There were 218 such adolescents of whom 51% were female. Of the 218, 37% had a family history (F/H) of hypertension, 27% a F/H of diabetes mellitus, 17% a F/H of obesity, 17% a F/H of cardiovascular diseases and 4% a F/H of cerebrovascular accidents. There was a history of passive smoking in 41%, consumption of aerated drinks in 73% and fast food consumption in 92%. Tobacco consumption was recorded in 1.8% and alcohol consumption in 2.9%. Fifteen (6.9%) subjects were found to be overweight and one (0.4%) subject was obese. Twenty two (10%) had systolic hypertension and 23 (10.5%) diastolic hypertension. BMI had a significant correlation with systolic and diastolic hypertension.

Conclusions: Fast food consumption was present in 92% of adolescents and physical activity with duration less than 30 minutes in 44.5% of adolescents in this study. BMI was significantly associated with both systolic and diastolic hypertension in this study.

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2017; 46: 48-54