A BLOOD PRESSURE SURVEY OF NATIVE AMERICAN NAVAJO CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Abstract
Hypertension is a health problem of great magnitude for adults in the United States; more than 20% are hypertensive and 90% of these hypertensives have primary or essential hypertension. Research has revealed that primary hypertension occurs in children. Because of these findings research has focused on describing distribution of blood pressure levels in children and determining what levels constitute high blood pressure in children and adolescents. A blood pressure survey was conducted among 985 Navajo children, ages 6 to 18 years, in Shiprock, New Mexico. The purpose of the study was to describe the blood pressure levels of Navajo children and to determine the relationship of anthropometric variables to blood pressure levels. Variables measured in addition to blood pressure (systolic, diastolic phase four, diastolic phase five) were pulse rate, arm circumference, height, weight, and triceps skinfold. Results of the survey indicate blood pressure levels increased with age for both males and females. Male systolic blood pressure levels were higher during adolescence and early childhood. The latter result was due to greater male weight from six to eight years of age. Systolic blood pressure levels of Navajo children were much lower and diastolic phase four blood pressure levels higher when compared to some white and black children's blood pressure levels. Only Navajo diastolic phase five blood pressure levels were comparable. Mean height and weight of Navajo children were comparable to an urban Native American population and to the National Health Examination Survey height and weight data. Triceps skinfold and arm circumference values were higher when compared to other population groups. Studied variables were entered into a stepwise multiple regression analysis for ascertainment of which anthropometric variables would contribute the most to the variability of blood pressure. Weight had the highest correlation coefficient, it was responsible for 30% of the variability seen in Navajo blood pressure levels.
Subject Area
Public health
Recommended Citation
QUILLIAN, JANET ISABELLA, "A BLOOD PRESSURE SURVEY OF NATIVE AMERICAN NAVAJO CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS" (1982). Texas Medical Center Dissertations (via ProQuest). AAI8308268.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/dissertations/AAI8308268