Four-year longitudinal associations of physical activity, waist circumference, and blood pressure in UK adolescents

Background This study assessed the specific influence of physical activity (PA) and waist circumference (WC) on the 4-year growth trajectory of blood pressure in UK high-school students. Methods Four-year longitudinal monitoring of 1501 adolescents was conducted as part of the EoEHHS. Measurements were taken in Grades (G)7, 9, and 11. Results Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) increased over the 4-year period (SBP G7 114.6 ± 8.9 mmHg, G9 118.1 ± 9.7 mmHg, G11 122.8 ± 7.8 mmHg; DBP G7 66.7 ± 6.6 mmHg, G9 68.0 ± 6.4 mmHg, G11 70.0 ± 5.2 mmHg). Baseline WC predicted baseline and growth in SBP, but the strongest contribution to SBP came from changes in WC ( β = 0.084, p = 0.002). Baseline PAQ-A score ( β = −0.822, p = 0.020) and changes in PAQ-A score ( β = −0.650, p = 0.019) were associated with smaller increases in DBP over the 4-year measurement period. Conclusions Baseline and change in WC predicted the growth trajectory of SBP, while baseline and change in PA predicted the growth trajectory of DBP. PA and WC have a prognostic value in predicting changes in blood pressure in adolescents. Increasing PA during adolescence could slow the rise in DBP over time. This is meaningful for future hypertension and CVD risk reduction into adulthood. Impact Hypertension in adolescents is a growing health problem that is often overlooked. Baseline and changes in waist circumference over a 4-year period predicted development of systolic blood pressure, while baseline and changes in physical activity predicted development of diastolic blood pressure. Physical activity and waist circumference have a prognostic value in predicting changes in blood pressure in adolescents and could be valuable in planning programmes to prevent hypertension in similar communities and reduce the risk of future adult hypertension.