@article{fdi:010055828,
  title = {{B}lood pressure and associated factors in a {N}orth {A}frican adolescent population : a national cross-sectional study in {T}unisia},
  author = {{A}ounallah-{S}khiri, {H}. and {E}l {A}ti, {J}. and {T}raissac, {P}ierre and {B}en {R}omdhane, {H}. and {E}ymard-{D}uvernay, {S}abrina and {D}elpeuch, {F}rancis and {A}chour, {N}. and {M}aire, {B}ernard},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground: {I}n southern and eastern {M}editerranean countries, changes in lifestyle and the increasing prevalence of excess weight in childhood are risk factors for high blood pressure ({BP}) during adolescence and adulthood. {T}he aim of this study was to evaluate the {BP} status of {T}unisian adolescents and to identify associated factors. {M}ethods: {A} cross-sectional study in 2005, based on a national, stratified, random cluster sample of 1294 boys and 1576 girls aged 15-19 surveyed in home visits. {T}he socio-economic and behavioral characteristics of the adolescents were recorded. {O}verweight/obesity were assessed by {B}ody {M}ass {I}ndex ({BMI}) from measured height and weight ({WHO}, 2007), abdominal obesity by waist circumference ({WC}). {BP} was measured twice during the same visit. {E}levated {BP} was systolic ({SBP}) or diastolic blood pressure ({DBP}) >= 90th of the international reference or >= 120/80 mm {H}g for 15-17 y., and {SBP}/{DBP} >= 120/80 mm {H}g for 18-19 y.; hypertension was {SBP}/{DBP} >= 95th for 15-17 y. and >= 140/90 mm {H}g for 18-19 y. {A}djusted associations were assessed by logistic regression. {R}esults: {T}he prevalence of elevated {BP} was 35.1%[32.9-37.4]: higher among boys (46.1% vs. 33.3%; {P} < 0.0001); 4.7% [3.8-5.9] of adolescents had hypertension. {A}ssociations adjusted for all covariates showed independent relationships with {BMI} and {WC}: - obesity vs. no excess weight increased elevated {BP} (boys {OR} = 2.1[1.0-4.2], girls {OR} = 2.3[1.3-3.9]) and hypertension (boys {OR} = 3.5[1.4-8.9], girls {OR} = 5.4[2.2-13.4]), - abdominal obesity ({WC}) was also associated with elevated {BP} in both genders (for boys: 2nd vs. 1st tertile {OR} = 1.7[1.3-2.3], 3rd vs. 1st tertile {OR} = 2.8[1.9-4.2]; for girls: 2nd vs. 1st tertile {OR} = 1.6[1.2-2.1], 3rd vs. 1st tertile {OR} = 2.1[1.5-3.0]) but only among boys for hypertension. {A}ssociations with other covariates were weaker: for boys, hypertension increased somewhat with sedentary lifestyle, while elevated {BP} was slightly more prevalent among urban girls and those not attending school. {C}onclusion: {W}ithin the limits of {BP} measurement on one visit only, these results suggest that {T}unisian adolescents of both genders are likely not spared from early elevated {BP}. {T}hough further assessment is likely needed, the strong association with overweight/obesity observed suggests that interventions aimed at changing lifestyles to reduce this main risk factor may also be appropriate for the prevention of elevated {BP}.},
  keywords = {{A}dolescent ; {B}lood pressure ; {T}unisia ; {P}revalence ; {R}isk factors},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{B}mc {P}ublic {H}ealth},
  volume = {12},
  numero = {},
  pages = {98},
  ISSN = {1471-2458},
  year = {2012},
  DOI = {10.1186/1471-2458-12-98},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010055828},
}