The value of hip circumference/height(x) ratio for identifying childhood hypertension

To investigate the value of hip circumference related indexes for identifying childhood hypertension. In 2011, 1,352 Han children aged 7–12 years were recruited in our study. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure ≥95th percentile for all three screenings. We set the power value of the hip circumference/height(x) ratio (x = 0, 0.8, 1 and 1.5) and studied the association with blood pressure. Hip circumference, hip circumference/height(0.8), hip circumference/height and hip circumference/height(1.5) all showed a positive correlation with systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure(P < 0.05). Area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the abilities of hip circumference related indexes. Hip circumference/height(0.8), hip circumference/height and hip circumference/height1.5 were not superior to hip circumference. The present study demonstrates that hip circumference measurement is a helpful tool to detect the presence of hypertension in Han children 7–12 years old.