Clinical and epidemiological aspects of blood pressure in pediatric population of the north coast axis center in Venezuela evaluated in the SENACREDH: II. Differences in blood pressure according to social strata

In the context of the Second National Study of Human Growth and Development of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (SENACREDH), blood pressure was evaluated in 4 017 individuals 6.00 to 19.99 years-old from Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda, Vargas states and Capital District. They represented, for the weighted data, 1 340 738 pop; 54.89 % males. Prevalence of isolated blood pressure values ≥P90 was 4.36 % for systolic pressure and 4.62 % for diastolic pressure. When those prevalences were adjusted by social strata, those from I+II+III strata presented blood pressure a ≥P90 prevalence significantly higher, 5.4 %, compared to those from IV stratum 4.2 % and those from V stratum 3.8 % (χ²=965.4; P<0.001) (OR=1.35 [IC95 % 1.32-1.38] I+II+III vs IV+V). These results indicate that those children and teenagers from high social strata families (with better living conditions) present 1.35 times more blood pressure values in ranges corresponding to prehypertension and hypertension, compared to those from low social strata (with less favorable living conditions). This leads to the importance of focus on control and prevention strategies in hypertension in those pediatric populations at higher risk.