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. 2019 Feb 25;33(9):679–692. doi: 10.1038/s41371-019-0178-y

Table 2.

Factors investigated for association with diastolic blood pressure among adolescents from the Entebbe Mother and Baby Study (N = 1119)

Factors  Mean BP (SD) Crude β (95% CI) P-value Adjusted β (95% CI) P-value
Level 1: Maternal factors
 Age (years) 0.08 (−0.00, 0.15) 0.058 0.05 (−0.03, 0.13) 0.247
 Household socioeconomic index  (n = 1104) 0.22 (−0.13, 0.56) 0.225
 Parity 0.08 (−0.16, 0.32) 0.530
 Body mass index (n = 1110) 0.16 (0.03, 0.29) 0.014 0.14 (0.01, 0.27) 0.030
 Education status
   None (n = 28) 65.1 (9.3) 0.44 (−2.32, 3.19) 0.08 (−2.71, 2.89)
   Primary (n = 542) 64.6 (6.7) Reference Reference
   Senior (n = 438) 65.5 (7.5) 0.92 (0.01, 1.84) 1.00 (0.07, 1.92)
   Tertiary (n = 109) 66.8 (8.0) 2.14 (0.65, 3.64) 0.023 2.08 (0.57, 3.59) 0.022
 Marital status
   Single (n = 116) 64.2 (6.4) −1.19 (−2.59, 0.21) −1.26 (−2.69, 0.16)
   Married/cohabiting (n = 967) 65.4 (7.4) Reference Reference
   Separated/widowed (n = 35) 63.5 (6.0) −1.91 (−4.36, 0.54) 0.089 −1.91 (−4.38, 0.54) 0.075
 Area of residence
   Urban (n = 770) 65.3 (7.5) Reference
   Rural (n = 336) 64.9 (6.8) 0.49 (−1.42, 0.44) 0.302
 Alcohol use
   No (n = 775) 65.3 (7.5) Reference
   Yes (n = 343) 65.0 (6.6) −0.34 (−1.26, 0.59) 0.477
 Infections
   HIV
      Uninfected (n = 1002) 65.2 (7.3) Reference
      Infected (n = 117) 64.9 (6.5) −0.35 (−1.74, 1.05) 0.626
   Asymptomatic malaria
      Uninfected (n = 991) 65.2 (7.4) Reference
      Infected (n = 109) 64.9 (6.6) −0.29 (−1.73, 1.15) 0.695
   Schistosoma mansoni
      Uninfected (n = 908) 65.2 (7.1) Reference
      Infected (n = 204) 65.5 (7.7) 0.31 (−0.79, 1.41) 0.579
   Hookworm (Necator americanus)
      Uninfected (n = 662) 65.1 (7.1) Reference
      Infected (n = 450) 65.4 (7.4) 0.27 (−0.60, 1.14) 0.539
   Ascaris lumbricoides
      Uninfected (n = 1084) 65.3 (7.3) Reference
      Infected (n = 28) 65.1 (5.5) −0.18 (−2.90, 2.54) 0.896
 Intervention one
   Placebo (n = 566) 65.0 (6.9) Reference
   Albendazole (n = 553) 65.4 (7.7) 0.39 (−0.46, 1.24) 0.366
 Intervention two
   Placebo (n = 564) 65.4 (7.3) Reference
   Praziquantel (n = 555) 65.0 (7.2) −0.44 (−1.29, 0.42) 0.315
Level 2: Factors in childhood
 Birth weight (kg) (n = 932) 0.66 (−0.27, 1.59) 0.164 0.57 (−0.40, 1.53) 0.246
 Sex
   Male (n = 583) 64.9 (7.2) Reference Reference
   Female (n = 536) 65.5 (7.4) 0.64 (−0.21, 1.49) 0.141 0.49 (−0.43, 1.42) 0.294
 Sickle-cell trait
   HbAA (n = 661) 65.4 (7.1) Reference
   HbAS (n = 141) 65.5 (7.4) 0.15 (−1.16, 1.46) 0.825
 Season of birth
   Dry (n = 651) 65.5 (7.3) Reference Reference
   Wet (n = 468) 64.7 (7.2) −0.79 (−1.65, 0.07) 0.073 0.59 (−1.52, 0.35) 0.214
 Place of delivery
   Entebbe Hospital (n = 824) 65.1 (7.1) Reference
   Home (n = 120) 65.4 (8.5) 0.36 (−1.03, 1.76)
   Others (n = 174) 65.7 (7.3) 0.61 (−0.58, 1.80) 0.564
 Feeding status (at 6 week of age)
   Exclusive breast fed (n = 748) 65.4 (7.4) Reference
   Mixed fed (n = 344) 64.7 (7.0) −0.63 (−1.56, 0.30)
   Weaned (n = 14) 67.1 (4.4) 1.78 (−2.07, 5.63) 0.251
 Intervention three
   Placebo (n = 553) 64.9 (7.0) Reference Reference
   Albendazole (n = 554) 65.5 (7.5) 0.62 (−0.24, 1.47) 0.156 0.56 (−0.37, 1.48) 0.233
 HIV status
   Unexposed (n = 1001) 65.2 (7.3) Reference
   Exposed not infected (n = 100) 65.1 (6.7) −0.12 (−1.62, 1.37)
   Infected (n = 18) 63.5 (5.1) −1.71 (−5.10, 1.68) 0.609
 Malaria infection below 5 years of age
   Clinical or asymptomatic malariaa
      No (n = 456) 65.9(7.1) Reference Reference
      Yes (n = 663) 64.6 (7.3) −1.28 (−2.14, −0.41) 0.004 −1.47 (−2.41, −0.53) 0.002
   Clinical malariaa
      None (n = 474) 66.0 (7.2) Reference Reference
      Yes (n = 645) 64.6 (7.3) −1.38 (−2.24, −0.51) 0.002 −1.33 (−2.26, −0.39) 0.005
   Episodes of clinical malariaa
      None (n = 474) 65.9 (7.2) Reference Reference
      1–2 (n = 382) 64.5 (7.3) −1.45 (−2.42, −0.47) −1.53 (−2.59, −0.46)
      ≥3 (n = 263) 64.9 (7.4) −1.02 (−2.12, 0.07) 0.011 −1.03 (−2.22, 0.16) 0.015
   Asymptomatic malariaa
      None (n = 983) 64.5 (7.3) Reference Reference
      Yes (n = 124) 64.9 (7.4) −1.45 (−2.80, −0.10) 0.035 −1.35 (−2.89, 0.18) 0.082
   Schistosoma mansoni
      Uninfected (n = 1076) 65.2 (7.3) Reference
      Infected (n = 33) 64.5 (5.8) 0.67 (−3.18, 1.84) 0.602
   Ascaris lumbricoides
      Uninfected (n = 1052) 65.2 (7.3) Reference
      Infected (n = 57) 64.5 (7.1) −0.75 (−2.68, 1.18) 0.445
   Hookworm (Necator americanus)
      Uninfected (n = 1085) 65.2 (7.3) Reference Reference
      Infected (n = 24) 62.9 (5.8) −2.29 (−5.22, 0.64) 0.125 −1.79 (−4.93, 1.35) 0.261
   Trichuris trichiura
      Uninfected (n = 997) 65.1 (7.2) Reference
      Infected (n = 112) 65.8 (7.7) 0.67 (−0.74, 2.09) 0.353
   Microfilaria (Mansonella perstans)
      Uninfected (n = 1102) 65.1 (7.2) Reference
      Infected (n = 8) 67.3 (3.3) 2.12 (−2.91, 7.14) 0.409
Level 3: Factors in adolescence
 Age (years) 1.85(1.00, 2.70) <0.001 1.53 (0.63, 2.43) <0.001
 Body mass index (kg/m2) 0.28 (0.20, 0.36) <0.001 0.74 (0.42, 1.05) <0.001
 Waist circumference (cm) 0.88 (0.66, 1.10) <0.001 0.07 (−0.05, 0.18) 0.279
 Family history
   High blood pressure
      No (n = 1000) 65.0 (7.2) Reference Reference
      Yes (n = 105) 66.7 (7.6) 1.65 (0.19, 3.12) 0.027 1.57 (0.08, 3.06) 0.037
   Diabetes
      No (n = 927) 65.2 (7.2) Reference
      Yes (n = 186) 65.5 (7.8) 0.35 (−0.80, 1.49) 0.553
 Body composition analysisc
   Fat mass indexb (kg/m2) (n = 176) 1.75 (0.83, 2.69) <0.001 0.87 (−0.73, 2.47) 0.255
   Fat-free mass indexb (kg/m2) (n = 176) 1.19 (0.40, 1.98) 0.003 0.28 (−0.90, 1.45) 0.622
   Total body water indexb (kg/m2) (n = 176) 2.13 (0.95, 3.30) <0.001 1.51 (−0.86, 3.88) 0.180
 Adding salt to cooked food at the table
   No (n = 20) 67.4 (6.1) 2.19 (−1.04, 5.41) 2.72 (−0.39, 5.82)
   Yes (n = 1086) 65.2 (7.3) Reference 0.184 Reference 0.083
 Days a fruit is eaten/week
   0–2 (n = 543) 65.7 (7.1) Reference Reference
   3–7 (n = 541) 64.7 (7.5) −0.98 (−1.85, −0.11) 0.028 −0.96 (−1.83, −0.10) 0.027
 Days vegetables eaten/week
   0–2 (n = 461) 65.4 (7.1) Reference
   3–7 (n = 635) 65.1 (7.5) −0.27 (−1.15, 0.60) 0.540
 Days animal-protein eaten/week
   0–2 (n = 726) 65.1 (6.9) Reference
   3–7 (n = 374) 65.4 (8.0) 0.30 (−0.61, 1.20) 0.523
 Days sugared drinks taken/week
   None (n = 427) 65.0 (7.1) Reference Reference
   1–3 (n = 492) 65.2 (7.4) 0.25 (−0.70, 1.20) 0.12 (−0.84, 1.08)
   4–7 (n = 174) 66.0 (7.5) 1.06 (−0.23, 2.35) 0.271 0.54 (−0.75, 1.83) 0.707
 Days a fruit is eaten/week
 Days vegetables eaten/week 0.02 (−0.16, 0.1) 0.800
 Days animal-protein eaten/week 0.14 (−0.11, 0.39) 0.284
 Days starchy foods eaten/week 0.03 (−0.50, 0.55) 0.924
 Days sugared drinks taken/week 0.20 (0.00, 0.41) 0.048
 Breast development (girls only)b
   Pre-pubertal (n = 178) 64.1 (6.1) Reference Reference
   Pubertal (n = 97) 67.2 (7.9) 3.067 (1.38, 4.76) <0.001 0.98 (−0.88, 2.84) 0.281
 Pubic hair developmentb
   Pre-pubertal (n = 441) 64.1 (6.6) Reference Reference
   Pubertal (n = 170) 66.1 (7.6) 2.04 (0.82, 3.26) 0.001 0.68 (−0.62, 1.99) 0.293
 Snoring
   No (n = 932) 65.1 (7.2) Reference
   Yes (n = 163) 65.6 (7.8) 0.44 (−0.78, 1.66) 0.477
 Duration of night sleep
   <9 hours (n = 306) 65.8 (7.6) Reference Reference
   9 hours (n = 382) 64.8 (7.1) −1.03 (−2.11, 0.06) −0.92 (−2.02, 0.18)
   >9 hours (n = 405) 65.2 (7.2) −0.79(−1.86, 0.28) 0.160 −0.67 (−1.76, 0.43) 0.240
 Smoking in household
   Non (n = 962) 65.2 (7.3) Reference
   Yes (n = 147) 65.0 (6.8) −0.21 (−1.46, 1.06) 0.745
 Type of school attended
   Day (n = 117) 65.1 (7.2) Reference Reference
   Boarding school (n = 719) 66.2 (7.8) 1.13 (−0.26, 2.52) 0.112 −0.24 (−1.67, 1.20) 0.737
 Involved in physical education at school
   No (n = 385) 65.0 (6.9) Reference
   Yes (n = 719) 65.3 (7.5) 0.32 (−0.58, 1.22) 0.482
 Infections at the time of blood pressure measurement
   Asymptomatic malaria
      Uninfected (n = 1067) 65.3 (7.3) Reference
      Infected (n = 22) 64.0 (5.5) −1.31 (−4.36, 1.75) 0.401
   Schistosoma mansoni
      Uninfected (n = 964) 65.2 (7.4) Reference
      Infected (n = 112) 65.0 (5.8) −0.19 (−1.62, 1.24) 0.791
   Hookworm (Necator americanus)
      Uninfected (n = 1066) 65.2 (7.3) Reference
      Infected (n = 10) 64.0 (5.9) −1.25 (−5.80, 3.30) 0.590
   Ascaris (Ascaris lumbricoides)
      Uninfected (n = 1073) 65.2 (7.3) Reference
      Infected (n = 3) 62.3 (4.3) −2.86 (−11.14, 5.42) 0.498
    Trichuris trichiura
      Uninfected (n = 1036) 65.1 (7.2) Reference
      Infected (n = 40) 66.4 (9.4) 1.23 (−1.07, 3.54) 0.294

Model building followed the hierarchical approach, adding factors sequentially at three levels starting with the distal factors (level 1). Factors at the same level were added to the model at the same time and considered confounders for each other and for proximal factors. A P-value < 0.20 was used for considering the inclusion and maintenance of factors in the model

Adjusted β for which 95% CI exclude 0 are highlighted in bold

β linear regression coefficient: mean difference in blood pressure (BP) measured in mmHg

aNot included in the model together but each was adjusted for all other variables in the model

bNot included in multivariable model building for other exposures because of large proportion of missing information; but each was adjusted for variables in the final model building

cNot adjusted for body mass index because body mass index is on the causal pathway