Introduction: Prevalence of arterial hypertension and prehypertension in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus is higher than in healthy people, even when diabetic nephropathy symptoms (microalbuminuria) in these patients are not detected.
Aim of the study: To estimate the influence of body mass and body composition on blood pressure in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Material and methods: In 164 patients (M-92, F-72), aged 14.8 +/- 2.4 years, with diabetes duration 6.0 +/- 4.2 years, body weight, height, casual blood pressure, and HbA1c level were measured. Body composition (fat mass - %FAT) was determined by bioimpedance analysis. Body mass index (BMI) and daily dose of insulin were calculated.
Results: Based on BMI value obesity was diagnosed in 8 (4.9%) and overweight in 37 (22.6%) patients. In multivariate analysis we a found positive correlation between systolic blood pressure (SBP) with BMI and %FAT and between diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with BMI and %FAT. Patients with BMI within normal range had the lowest value of SBP. DBP in patients with normal BMI value was lower than in overweight subjects. No differences of SBP and DBP between overweight and obese patients were noted. DBP value increased from the lower to the upper quartile of %FAT. No significant correlation was found between SBP and the quartile value of %FAT.
Conclusion: There is a significant association between body mass index and body fat mass with blood pressure level in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.