Associations between adiposity, family history of CHD and blood pressure in 3-8 year-old children

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between overall and central adiposity, a family history of coronary heart disease (FHCHD), and blood pressure (BP) in young children. We were specifically interested in determining whether the relationship between adiposity and BP was modified by a FHCHD. Subjects were 130 (68 males, 62 females) young children (mean age 6.0 years). Indicators of adiposity included the body mass index, waist circumference, skinfold thickness, and body composition determined by dual energy X-ray absorbtiometry (DXA). BP was measured by standard procedures. FHCHD was reported by the parent on a questionnaire. Approximately 19% of the total sample was classified as overweight and almost 50% were classified as prehypertensive (22.4%) or hypertensive (24.8%). In the total sample, 21 of 27 correlations were significant and ranged from 0.03 to 0.52. Correlations for systolic blood pressure appeared to be stronger in female subjects. Most of the correlations for diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure were significant in both sexes and, in general, ranged between 0.30 and 0.50. Overweight status was significantly associated with high BP (crude odds ratio = 3.65, 95% confidence intervals 1.40-9.49). There were no significant associations between a positive FHCHD and BP, and the correlations between BMI, WC, and BP were similar in magnitude in subjects with and without a FHCHD. In conclusion, both overall and central adiposity are important determinants of resting BP in young children. A FHCHD was not associated with BP and nor were the associations between adiposity and BP modified by a FHCHD.