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Canadian Health Measures Survey: Blood pressure in children and adolescents
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Based on data from the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS), the study "Blood pressure in Canadian children and adolescents" found a low overall prevalence of elevated or borderline elevated blood pressure among Canadian children and adolescents.
The study found that 0.8% of young people aged 6 to 19 had elevated blood pressure, while 2.1% had borderline levels.
These findings are based on data from direct, automated measures of blood pressure in cycle 1 of the CHMS, which was conducted from March 2007 through February 2009 at 15 sites across the country.
The survey used a mobile examination centre (a specially designed pair of trailers staffed by trained health professionals) to collect physical measures. This study is based on 2,079 examination centre respondents aged 6 to 19.
Echoing the results of other studies, the study found that mean systolic blood pressure was significantly higher among boys aged 12 to 19 and girls aged 6 to 11 who were overweight or obese.
Mean diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher only among obese boys aged 12 to 19.
Excess weight is believed to influence blood pressure through increased sympathetic nervous system activation, which is associated with systolic blood pressure.
Elevated blood pressure is one of the most important causes of death and disability worldwide, accounting for 7.6 million premature deaths and 92 million disability-adjusted life years annually. Children who have higher blood pressure tend to stay at higher blood pressure levels when they reach adulthood. Hence, high blood pressure in youth may be a risk factor for the development of hypertension in adulthood. This persistence of high blood pressure from younger to older ages is more apparent among overweight and obese youth.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 5071.
The article, "Blood pressure in Canadian children and adolescents," which is part of today's Health Reports, Vol. 21, no. 2 (82-003-X, free) online release, is now available. From the Key resource module of our website, choose Publications.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Gilles Paradis (514-398-1418; gilles.paradis@mcgill.ca), McGill University.
Today's online release also includes "The Manitoba Human Papillomavirus vaccine surveillance and evaluation system." This article describes specific aspects of the human papillomavirus surveillance and evaluation system that is being implemented in Manitoba. For more information, contact Erich V. Kliewer (604-675-8000, ext. 7076; erich.kliewere@cancercare.mb.ca), CancerCare Manitoba.
For more information about Health Reports, contact Christine Wright (613-951-1765; christine.wright@statcan.gc.ca), Health Analysis Division.
