Effects of sexual maturation on blood pressure of male children and adolescents with different body mass, height and cronological age

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse if the effects of sexual maturation (SM) on sistolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) are independent of body growth (height, weight, chronological age), in boys aged 8-15 years old. Height and weight were determined by standard anthropometric methods (COUNCIL OF EUROPE, 1988). Blood pressure (BP) was measured according to standard methods (GILLMAN & COOK, 1995). Pubic hair was chosen as a secondary sexual characteristic for the puberty classification in boys (MATSUDO & MATSUDO, 1994; TANNER, 1962). The results of the present study show that SBP is influenced by SM (Anova). Results of the Ancova, with height and weight as the covariates, did not show statistically significant differences. When chronological age is the covariate, the BP shows statistically significant differences only between SM stages II and IV. Conclusion: Boys BP should not be determined by SM alone. The effects of height, weight and chronological age should be considered.