Neck circumference and blood pressure among children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sajjad Moradi; Hamed Mohammadi; Abed Ghavami; Mohammad Hossein Rouhani

doi:10.1016/j.jash.2018.10.007

Neck circumference and blood pressure among children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

J Am Soc Hypertens. 2018 Dec;12(12):822-832. doi: 10.1016/j.jash.2018.10.007. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Authors

Sajjad Moradi¹, Hamed Mohammadi², Abed Ghavami³, Mohammad Hossein Rouhani⁴

Affiliations

¹ Halal Research Center of IRI, FDA, Tehran, Iran; Student Research Committee, Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
² Student Research Committee, Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
³ Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁴ Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Electronic address: sm_rouhani@nutr.mui.ac.ir.

PMID: 30503144
DOI: 10.1016/j.jash.2018.10.007

Abstract

Emerging evidence suggested that large neck circumference (NC) in children and adolescents may be an indicator of increased blood pressure. We sought to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis regarding the association between NC and blood pressure in children. Pertinent studies were identified by searching PubMed and Scopus databases, up to January 2018. Studies which reported the correlation coefficient between NC, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in children (aged <18 years) were selected. Fifteen studies met eligibility criteria for the quantitative synthesis. Overall, NC was significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure (effect size (z) = 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.29-0.49; P < .001; meta r = 0.371; r² = 0.13) and diastolic blood pressure (effect size (z) = 0.25; 95% CI = 0.19-0.32; P < .001; meta r = 0.0.245; r² = 0.06). NC had a positive relationship with the risk of hypertension (odds ratio [OR] = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.05-1.75). Furthermore, studies conducted in Western regions (OR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.12-2.14) reported higher risk of hypertension in association with NC than those conducted in the Eastern regions (OR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.03-1.25).NC seems to be a novel anthropometric measurement in children and adolescents. It can be a good predictor of elevated blood pressure, especially in the Western population.

Keywords: Blood pressure; children; meta-analysis; neck circumference.

Publication types

Review