Prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension in children and adolescents with intellectual disability in southeastern Poland

Abstract

Background: There is insufficient information on the prevalence of hypertension (HPT) among children and adolescents with ID.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPT in children and adolescents with ID in comparison with the control group, which accounted for children and adolescents without ID.

Methods: The study included 568 students with ID, aged from 7 to 18, attending special education institutions in southeastern Poland. The control group consisted of 568 students (matched to the study group for age and gender) without ID, attending randomly selected elementary and secondary schools located in the same area. Blood pressure was measured in compliance with the European Society of Hypertension recommendations.

Results: The overall prevalence of HPT and pre-HPT in children and adolescents with ID were 18.5 and 20.6% respectively. Prevalence of HPT and pre-HPT in children and adolescents without ID were 5.8 and 18.5% respectively. Children and adolescents with a higher level of ID were found to be at a greater risk of HPT. An excessive body mass and older age were predisposing factors to a significantly higher prevalence of HPT in children and adolescents with ID.

Conclusion: The prevalence of HPT among students with ID was more than three times higher than in the general population. The level of ID, age, sex and body mass significantly correlated with HPT in the study group.

Keywords: adolescents; blood pressure; children; hypertension; intellectual disability; prehypertension.