Comparison of blood pressure of senior high school students in the inner and outer city of Medan

Abstract

Background Blood pressure (BP) in children and adolescents depends on multiple factors, both genetic and environmental such as gender, age, body weight and height, obesity, life style, socioeconomic status, etc. Surveillance of families in Medan (2000) reported that the socioeconomic status in the outer city was lower than in the inner city; other factors that influence BP of adolescents may also be different. Objective To compare the prevalence of hypertension between senior high school students in the inner and outer city of Medan. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted on 250 students selected randomly from four senior high schools in Medan, each 2 schools from inner and outer city. This study was done between June and August 2003. BP measurement was done in the morning at 08.00 – 12.00 o’clock before the subjects got exercises. BP measurements were done three times according to Task Force on Blood Pressure 1996 recommendation. The average of systolic and diastolic was considered as BP of the subjects. Results Systolic and diastolic BPs of the female students in the outer city (115.3/80.0 mmHg) were higher than those of the female students in the inner city (111.2/71.8 mmHg) and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.008 and P=0.014), but not for the male students. The prevalence of hypertension in the inner and outer city of Medan was 6.0% and 8.4%, respectively. Conclusions The prevalence of hypertension in the outer city was abit higher than that in the inner city. The averages of systolic and diastolic BPs of female students in the outer city were higher than those of the female students in the inner city of Medan.

Keywords

• blood pressure
• senior high schools
• inner city
• outer city