1
|
Arnaiz P, Müller I, Seelig H, Gerber M, Bosma J, Dolley D, Adams L, Degen J, Gall S, Joubert N, Nienaber M, Nqweniso S, Aerts A, Steinmann P, du Randt R, Walter C, Utzinger J, Pühse U. Practice Change Needed for the Identification of Pediatric Hypertension in Marginalized Populations: An Example From South Africa. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:877431. [PMID: 35633959 PMCID: PMC9130957 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.877431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hypertension in children has increased globally over the past 20 years; yet, little is known about this issue among disadvantaged communities from low- and middle-income countries. Age-, sex-, and height-adjusted normative tables are the "gold" standard for the diagnosis and estimation of pediatric hypertension worldwide, but it is unclear whether the use of international standards is appropriate for all contexts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare different international references to identify hypertension among South African school-aged children from disadvantaged communities. METHODS Blood pressure, weight, and height were measured in a cohort of 897 children aged 8-16 years from eight peri-urban schools in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Cross-sectional prevalence of hypertension was calculated according to American, German, and global normative tables, as well as pseudo-normative data from the own study population. Isolated systolic hypertension and body mass index (BMI) were considered markers for cardiovascular disease. Multinomial logistic regression was used to compare the likelihood of blood pressure categorization with increasing BMI levels. RESULTS Hypertension prevalence ranged from 11.4% with the pseudo-normative study tables to 28.8% based on the German reference. Global guidelines showed the highest agreement both among international standards (92.5% with American guidelines) and with the study reference (72.5%). While the global and the American references presented higher systolic over diastolic hypertension rates (23.6 vs. 10.6% and 24.2 vs. 14.7%, respectively), the American guidelines predicted the highest increased risk for hypertension stage 2 [odds ratio, 1.72 (95% confidence interval: 1.43-2.07)] with raising levels of BMI. CONCLUSION Our results support the heterogeneity of blood pressure estimates found in the South African literature, and highlight the underrepresentation of African children in international guidelines. We call for caution in the use of international standards in different contexts and advocate for the development of normative tables that are representative of the South African pediatric population necessary to ensure an accurate identification of hypertension both from the clinical and epidemiological perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Arnaiz
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Müller
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Harald Seelig
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Gerber
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jacob Bosma
- Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
| | - Danielle Dolley
- Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
| | - Larissa Adams
- Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
| | - Jan Degen
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Gall
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nandi Joubert
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Madeleine Nienaber
- Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
| | - Siphesihle Nqweniso
- Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
| | - Ann Aerts
- Novartis Foundation, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Peter Steinmann
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rosa du Randt
- Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
| | - Cheryl Walter
- Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
| | - Jürg Utzinger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Uwe Pühse
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
du Plessis JP, Nienaber-Rousseau C, Lammertyn L, Schutte AE, Pieters M, Kruger HS. The Relationship of Circulating Homocysteine with Fibrinogen, Blood Pressure, and Other Cardiovascular Measures in African Adolescents. J Pediatr 2021; 234:158-163.e2. [PMID: 33775664 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the associations between homocysteine (Hcy) and cardiovascular health in South African adolescents. STUDY DESIGN Circulating Hcy concentrations of 172 South African adolescents (105 girls, ages 13 to <18 years) were measured. Anthropometric and cardiovascular factors were also included and cross-sectionally analyzed through general linear models. RESULTS Hcy correlated positively with body weight (P = .03; after adjusting for multiple testing, it was not regarded as significant) and muscle mass (P = .01), but negatively with fibrinogen concentrations (P = .001). Across Hcy tertiles, blood pressure produced approximating U-shaped curves, with differences between the middle and upper tertiles (all P < .02). Forty percent of the adolescents had elevated blood pressure, of whom 37% fell in the lowest and 38% in the highest Hcy tertiles. Hcy differed between the sexes (with boys having higher Hcy), but not between subgroups based on puberty, weight, stunting, smoking, or alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS Both high and low Hcy could be early contributing risk factors to cardiovascular health. The associations between Hcy and blood pressure suggest that dietary and lifestyle manipulation, to achieve the optimal range of Hcy, may be beneficial in preventing Hcy-related hypertension in adulthood. The inverse relationship between Hcy and fibrinogen remains to be clarified.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacomina P du Plessis
- Center of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Cornelie Nienaber-Rousseau
- Center of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
| | - Leandi Lammertyn
- Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Medical Research Council Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Aletta E Schutte
- Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Medical Research Council Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Marlien Pieters
- Center of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Herculina S Kruger
- Center of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|