Prevalence of arterial hypertension in obese high school population in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
AIM To determine the significance of obesity as a risk factor in high school population with hypertension. METHODS Testing was conducted during the school year 2006-2007 on a sample of 1121 students, 15-18 years of age (306 boys and 815 girls) from three high schools in Zenica (Grammar School, Teacher Training High School and Secondary School for Nurses). Increased relative risk factor with reliability coefficient that points to the significance of the correlation of risk factors and development of a disease was examined using analytical epidemiological research methods and statistical analysis (the linear correlation coefficient, χ2 test, and the relative risk ) . RESULTS Obesity, e.g. Body Mass Index (BMI) more than 95 was found in 15 (5%) boys and 57 (7%) girls. Increased relative risk of developing essential arterial hypertension was found in obese boys (RR= 9.00 ) and girls (RR= 2.66) with the coefficient of reliability which pointed to the significance of the relationship between obesity and arterial hypertension morbidity. CONCLUSION Obesity is a significant risk factor for the occurrence of essential arterial hypertension in boys and girls. Monitoring the nutritional status of youth, regular systematic medical examinations with measuring tension and implementing measures to control nutrition, are important preventive public health tasks.