RESUMO
La hipertensión arterial (HTA) puede comenzar en la niñez y se relaciona con otros factores de riesgo, como la obesidad y el sedentarismo. En este estudio, se estimó la prevalencia y se evaluaron los factores asociados a HTA en adolescentes de entre 15 y 19 años que concurrieron al Centro de Salud y Acción Comunitaria N° 12 para realizar el apto físico escolar. Se obtuvieron los siguientes datos: edad, sexo, antecedentes familiares de HTA, tabaquismo actual, actividad física, peso, talla, perímetro de cintura y presión arterial. Se evaluaron 289 adolescentes con una edad media de 16,6 años; el 48,6 % fueron varones. El 6,6 % presentó HTA; el 10,9 %, obesidad, y el 13,4 %, perímetro de cintura aumentado. La presencia de HTA se asoció significativamente a la presencia de obesidad y perímetro de cintura aumentado, y no se encontró asociación significativa con las demás variables estudiadas.
Arterial hypertension (HTN) may begin in childhood and is related to other risk factors, such as obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. In this study, the prevalence of HTN was estimated and the factors associated with it were assessed in adolescents aged 1519 years who attended the Center for Health and Community Action no. 12 to request their medical fitness certificate for school. The following data were collected: age, sex, family history of HTN, current smoking, physical activity, weight, height, waist circumference, and blood pressure. A total of 289 adolescents were assessed; their mean age was 16.6 years. Among them, 48.6 % were males; 6.6 % had HTN; 10.9 % were obese; and 13.4 % had a larger waist circumference. The presence of HTN was significantly associated with obesity and a larger waist circumference, but no significant association was observed with the other studied outcome measures.