الفهرس 
AcknowledgmentOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Until recently, the vast majority of data concerning standards of normal blood pressure, prevalence of hypertension and mechanisms involved in the development of hypertension have centered on adult population. However during the past 15 years, there has been a surge of interest in systemic hypertension in children and adolescents. The aim of the present work was to study blood pressure levels among Kuwaiti primary school children aged 6-12 years and to determine the prevalence of hypertension and some related risk factors. To accomplish such aim, a multistage stratified random sample from Kuwaiti primary school children was selected representing the five educational regions. Two schools were chosen at random one for boys and another for girls. From each school, 4 classes were selected at random one from each of the 4 primary grades. Cases of secondary hypertension recorded or detected were excluded from the sample. The total sample of the study constituted 1312 students (619 boys and 693 girls). Data were collected by using a structured questionnaire, clinical examination, measurements, . urine anthropometric analysis and blood pressure measurement. The results of the study could be summarized as follows: . The percentile values for systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased gradually with increase of age and from one percentile to the next. The highest percentile value of systolic blood pressure for girls was 127 mm/Jig at the 95th percentile which is slightly lower than that of boys 130 mm/Iig at the same percentile. The same pattern of increase by age and by percentile was observed for diastolic blood pressure as the highest value was 80 mm/Jig at the 95th percentile starting from age 9 and older for boys and from age of 10 + for girls. . A positive correlation was found between mean blood pressure levels and age as it increased with increasing age. . The mean systolic, diastolic blood pressure increased with increasing the school year. . There was an increase in the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the students when the age for their mothers increased. . The mean systolic blood pressure increased with increasing students rank, while the diastolic blood pressure, decreased as the rank of the child increased. - The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was higher among the students whose scholastic achievement scored good and very good than students with weak scholastic achievement. - There is a slight increase of mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure among the first cousins than far relatives or with absent consanguinity. - The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure for students with family history of hypertension was slightly higher than those with no family history of hypertension. - The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of students was higher among children of low and very low social level than children of high social level. . The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was increasing with the increase of crowding index and family size of the students. . There is a slight increase of mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of students who like salty foods than the students who don’t like any type of salty foods. - The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was decreased with the students who were practicing physical exercise than the students who did not practice exercise. - The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure gradually increased for students with increasing arm circumference, skin fold thickness and body mass index (BMI). The difference was statistically highly significant. - The prevalence of hypertension among primary school students in Kuwait was found to be 5.1 for both sex, 4.6 and 5.7 among boys and girls respectively. - By using the logistic regression analysis, the main variables that increase the odd’s ratio for hypertension were age, sex, rank among siblings, consanguinity, social class, level of intake of salty foods and skin fold thickness. The main recommendations suggested by the study were: I. Blood pressure levels in children should be measured as part of routine comprehensive medical examination. 2. Careful measurement techniques should be adopted. 3. Several measurements should be obtained. 4. Measurement of parents blood pressure evaluation of the child. as part of the 5. Identifying children at high risk and motivate families to alter lifestyles and food habits. ., (’ 6. Regular blood pressure measurement and follow up. 7. Early prevention of obesity and increased physical activities. 8. Encourage obese children to reduce weight. 9. Educate children at risk to reduce salt intake. ^leng