Global Pediatric Health (Apr 2021)

Body Mass Index Trajectories and Duration of Obesity in Thai Children Diagnosed with Hypertension

  • Witchuri Paksi B.N.S.,
  • Suthatip Sirijunpen M.D.,
  • Pracha Nuntnarumit M.D.,
  • Kwanchai Pirojsakul M.D.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/2333794X211012998
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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This study explored the relationship between BMI trajectories and the duration of obesity in Thai children diagnosed with hypertension. Demographic and blood pressure data from 536 children (270 boys, 50.3%) from a school in Bangkok, Thailand were collected. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure above the cutoff values specified in the 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines on 3 occasions. Records of BMI over the previous 3 years were reviewed. The prevalence of hypertension was 2.61% (14/536). Complete data on BMI trajectories were available in 421 non-hypertensive and 12 hypertensive children. The increase in BMI z-score over the previous 3 years was significantly greater in the hypertensive group than the non-hypertensive group, 1.45 (95% CI 0.42 to 1.88) versus 0.09 (95% CI: −0.35, 0.65), P = .008. In conclusion, children with a confirmed diagnosis of hypertension had a greater increase in BMI over the past 3 years than non-hypertensive children.