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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Appendix E-2.24 Prevalence of high and borderline high blood pressure (BP), children and adolescents ages 8-17 years, NHANES 2009-2012

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Prevalence of high and borderline high blood pressure (BP)
Group Sample Size High BP % (standard error) Borderline high BP1 % (standard error)
Total 3361 1.7(0.2) 8.3(0.7)
Boys 1720 1.7(0.4) 12.0(1.3)
Girls 1641 1.6(0.2) 4.6(0.8)
8 to 12 y 1808 1.8(0.4) 3.8(0.7)
13 to 17 y 1553 1.5(0.4) 12.4(1.1)
Non-Hispanic white2 936 1.4(0.3) 7.2(0.9)
Non-Hispanic black2 836 2.3(0.5) 12.1(1.3)
Hispanic2 1179 1.8(0.6)* 8.5(1.4)
Body Mass Index (BMI)3 5th-84th percentile 2016 1.4(0.3) 5.4(0.8)
Body Mass Index (BMI)3 85th-94th percentile 545 ** 10.9(1.6)
Body Mass Index (BMI)3 ≥95th percentile 704 1.8(0.6)* 16.2(1.8)
Boys Non-Hispanic white 478 ** 10.8(1.8)
Boys Non-Hispanic black 417 2.5(0.7) 16.6(2.0)
Boys Hispanic 614 ** 12.7(2.3)
Girls Non-Hispanic white 458 1.8(0.4) 3.8(1.1)
Girls Non-Hispanic black 419 ** 7.5(1.6)
Girls Hispanic 565 1.5(0.6)* 4.3(1.0)
BMI Boys 5th-84th percentile 1021 1.8(0.5) 8.6(1.5)
BMI Boys 85th-94th percentile 267 ** 16.3(2.8)
BMI Boys ≥95th percentile 376 1.8(0.6)* 20.1(3.0)
BMI Girls 5th-84th percentile 995 1.0(0.3) 2.4(0.8)*
BMI Girls 85th-94th percentile 278 ** 5.3(1.2)
BMI Girls ≥95th percentile 328 ** 12.0(2.7)

1 Borderline high BP defined as a systolic or diastolic BP ≥90th percentile but <95th percentile or BP levels ≥120/80 mm Hg. High BP defined as a systolic or diastolic BP ≥95th percentile. Definitions based on the Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescent. Estimates are based on the average of up to 3 measurements.

2 Race-Hispanic origin classified as “other” not separately reported by included in overall estimates

3 Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared, rounded to one decimal place. BMI percentiles based on the 2000 CDC Growth Charts

NOTE: Analyses based on age at exam and exclude pregnant adolescents

* Relative standard error (RSE)≥30 but < 40; ** RSE≥40

DATA SOURCE: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2012.
Prepared by the Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.