ARE BODY MASS INDEX AND BIRTH WEIGHT PREDICTORS OF BLOOD PRESSURE REACTIVITY IN CHILDREN?
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: The aim of this study is to evaluate the blood pressure (BP) reactivity and its relationship with body mass index (BMI) and birth weight in children recruited in a pediatric clinical setting in Southern Brazil. METHODS: Cross-sectional study evaluating 443 children with 3 to 12 years of age. BP hyper reactivity was defined as elevated blood pressure (greater than 95th percentile) during clinical evaluation with normal subsequent measures. The statistical analysis used multivariate models. RESULTS: The percentage of children with BP levels greater than 95thpercentile was 34.6%, 7% and 3.6% in the first, second and third evaluations, respectively. Thirty five percent of the children were obese or overweight. The systolic BP in the clinical consultation was associated with BMI (b0.16 CI95%0.06-0.26) and with birth weight (b0.005 CI95%0.01-0.0008). The diastolic BP in the clinical consultation was associated with age (b-1.32 CI95%-2.44-0.2), birth weight (b-0.006 CI9
