Salinity in drinking water and blood pressure status of adolescent school children in coastal area of Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: High dietary salt intake from food is a major risk factor for raised blood pressure (BP) worldwide.\xa0 In the context of Bang ladesh , information regarding salinity in water and blood pressure especially in the\xa0 adolescent population is very scarce.\xa0 This study\xa0 was conducted\xa0 to\xa0 assess\xa0 the\xa0 blood\xa0 pressure\xa0 status\xa0 of\xa0 adolescent\xa0 school\xa0 children in coastal area of Bangladesh. \nMethods: A one-year school based cross-sectional study was carried out among 528 students of class 8-10 at schools of Bajua Union, Dacope Upazilla, saline prone zone of Khulna district. Relevant data were collected by using pre tested semi-structured questionnaire with face to face interview & checklist. Blood pressure was mea sured in a controlled environment and Collected water sources were analyzed by DPHE, Water Testing Laboratory. The study was conducted in the schools of Bajua Uni on, Dacope Upa zilla of the saline prone zone of Khulna district in between a one-year time frame. \nResults:\xa0 Among 528 participants most of them\xa0 were male (353, 66.9%) with an age of 14 years (185\xa0 ,\xa0 35.0%).\xa0 Most of them were read in class 8 (185 , 35.0%). Prevalence of paternal, maternal, paternal grandparents and maternal grandparents history of hypertension were found significant. About 72.3% regularly took extra salt during meal and 43.9% took salt preserved fish with\xa0 meal. Mean of systolic blood\xa0 pressure\xa0 of respondents were 114.2197 ± 7.61448\xa0 mm of Hg. Mean of diastolic blood pressure of respondents were 75.1 780 ± 5.45959 mm of Hg. Mean of pulse pressure of respondents were 39.0417 ± 6.56430. Mean of mean arterial pressure of respondents\xa0 were 88. I 9\xa0 I 9\xa0 ±\xa0 5.44267 mm of Hg. Sodium concentration of pond were approximately in between 500-600 mg/I, whereas in\xa0 tube\xa0 wells approximately in between 700-1 I 00 mg/I. \nConclusion: Drinking water sodium is an important source of daily sodium intake , and therefore a risk factor for increased BP in salinity prone coastal areas. This adds to the cardiovascular health risks associated with food sodium intake in Southeast Asian populations. Low- saline alternative drinking water sources could effectively help to prevent high BP and hypertension-related morbidity and mortality in these coastal populations. New technologies for the supply of such alternative sources, including safeguarding the microbial quality , should be further studied. \nJOPSOM 2020; 39(1): 60-66