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Individuals born small for gestational age (SGA) are supposed to be at higher risk to develop cardiovascular disorders, and recent report showed that concurrent obesity influences blood pressure (BP) in SGA children. Our aim was to investigate the impact of obesity and birth weight on blood pressure values in young adult men born SGA and controls born after normal pregnancy, Normotensive, non-treated adult men were enrolled (N = 185; mean age 21.29 +/- 0.9 years). Birth parameters were obtained from medical records and SGA was defined as birth weight (BW) under 10th percentile for gestational age and obesity as BMI > 25 kg/m2. According to the presence or absence of obesity and BW the subjects were divided into four groups: (1) non-obese with normal BW (N = 50), (2) non-obese SGA (N = 67), (3) obese with normal BW (N = 40), (4) obese SGA (N = 28). BP was measured using Omron M6 and Spacelab 90207 device following the ESH/ESC guidelines. Systolic BP, 24-hour BP variability and pulse pressure were significantly higher in SGA subjects than in those with normal BW (p < 0.05). The highest 24-hour and daytime systolic BP values as well as 24-hour pulse pressure were found in the subgroup of obese SGA subjects (p < 0.001). Significant differences for the above parameters were observed between obese SGA group and non-obese SGA group (p < 0.05). Obese SGA subjects had higher 24-hour and daytime systolic BP values compared to obese normal BW group. No difference was found in BP between non-obese SGA and non-obese group with normal BW (p > 0.05). In addition to BW and shorter pregnancy duration, obesity concurrently and significantly determines systolic BP in young normotensive men and point to a need for more aggressive implementation of healthy lifestyle as early as possible.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension, overweight and obesity in Croatian adolescents. In this cross-sectional survey (the sub-study of the EH-UH study) 375 boys and 381 girls (mean age 15.9 +/- 0.5 years) from four high schools in the city of Koprivnica were enrolled. Blood pressure, body height and body weight were measured according to the current ESH/ESC guidelines. Data on life style were obtained from questionnaire. Average blood pressure values were higher in boys than in girls (117/74 mmHg vs. 111/69 mmHg; p < 0.001). Significantly higher blood pressure values were obtained in overweight children compared to those with normal weight (119/76 mmHg us. 115/72 mmHg; p < 0.01). Prevalence of hypertension was 8.5% in the whole group being significantly higher in boys than in girls (11.2% vs. 5.8%; p = 0.0007). As expected, prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in obese children than in those with normal weight (20.0% vs. 6.8%; p = 0.015). A significant correlation was found between body mass index and blood pressure (p = 0.0001). The overall prevalence of obesity was 3.54% (boys 2.2%; girls 4.9%). Our results confirmed positive relationship between overweight, obesity and hypertension starting from childhood pointing again the utmost importance of preventive measures beginning from early life.

Obesity significantly increases the risk for the occurrence of cardiovascular disease in patients with essential hypertension. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of obesity, measured by different methods, in patients with essential hypertension, its effect on arterial pressure, and to determine the best correlation between indicators of obesity and arterial pressure. The study included 88 patients with essential hypertension, 32 males, mean age 59.4 (+/- 10.4) years, and 56 females, mean age 62.9 (+/- 8.8) years. Body weight (BW) and height (BH), waist circumference (WC), and body mass index (BMI) were measured for each subject. Arterial pressure was determined using mercury sphygmomanometer. Overweight patients were defined as those with BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2, while obese as those with > or = 30 kg/m2. Abdominal obesity was assessed by WC. WC values exceeding 102 cm for men and 88 cm for women indicated obesity. Body measures of male patients were higher than those for women (BW 92.5 (+/- 14.5) vs 76.7 (+/- 11.5) p < 0.001; BH 175.4 (+/- 7.4) vs 163.4 (+/- 5.8) p < 0.001), significantly higher waist circumference values (102.4 (+/- 12.2) vs 94.1 (+/- 13.9) p = 0.006), with no differences in age, BMI, and arterial pressure values (p > 0.05). Also, no differences were observed in the number of uncontrolled hypertensive patients or number of overweight or obese patients (p > 0.05). The number of obese patients did not differ significantly with regard to the various measurement methods employed (BMI: M 50%, F 37%; waist measurement: M 51%, F 54%). A significant difference was noted in arterial pressure values only in the male patient group on comparing patients with normal BW and obese patients (systolic blood pressure (SBP) 156 (+/- 22.5) vs 142 (+/- 6.4) p = 0.04; diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 94 (+/- 11.6) vs 82.5 (+/- 6.4) p = 0.05). The correlation between obesity indicators and arterial pressure was significant for WC only in the male group (SBP r = 0.33, DBP r = 0.35, p < 0.05). The frequency of obesity does not differ with regard to the determined obesity indicators. Obese men have higher risk for increased arterial pressure values. WC values correlate better with arterial pressure values as it is a more accurate indicator of abdominal obesity.