Self-screening of blood pressure and sodium in a 24-hour urine sample as part of a school health programme.

A study was conducted to determine the usefulness of self-screening of blood pressure in families as part of a school health care programme, and to study the relationship between BP and sodium excretion in school children. In 750 families with 10-13 year old children, the mothers were instructed to take BP measurements on themselves, their child and the father whilst at home. A comparison of the children's BP measurements at home and at school with those of the parents showed the home measurements to have the closest correlation with parental BP. Twenty-four hour sodium excretion and sodium/potassium ratio in children of borderline hypertensive mothers were positively related to children's BP.