Abstract Body:
Introduction:
Obesity is linked to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and earlier onset of cardiovascular morbidity. Obesity is also notable as a cause of hypertension in adults.

Objective:
Evaluate the association between obesity and elevated systolic blood pressure in children from the Philadelphia area by calculating the odds ratio using data from the HeartBytes database compiled from various heart screening events.

Hypothesis:
Overweight, obese, and severely obese children have higher odds of elevated systolic blood pressure than underweight and normal weight individuals.

Methods:
Heart screenings were done at Simon's Heart youth community screening events between 2023 and 2025. The data included vitals such as systolic blood pressure and BMI. Based on age-specific guidelines, each participant was classified as either low/normal systolic blood pressure or elevated systolic blood pressure. Also using age-related guidelines, each participant was classified as underweight/normal weight, overweight, obese, or severely obese. A multivariable logistic regression was conducted to determine the odds of elevated systolic blood pressure for each weight category.


Results:
The odds of elevated systolic blood pressure in overweight children is 1.075 times that of underweight/normal weight youth (p=0.709). Children with obesity have 2.043 times higher odds of having elevated systolic blood pressure compared to underweight/normal weight children (p<0.001). Children with severe obesity have 3.9 times higher odds of elevated systolic blood pressure compared to underweight/normal weight children (p<0.001).

Conclusion:
Obesity and severe obesity are associated with significantly higher rates of elevated systolic blood pressure in Philadelphia area children. Severe obesity has a greater odds ratio of elevated systolic blood pressure than non-severe obesity. Overweight children did not have a significant increase in odds of having elevated systolic blood pressure when compared to underweight/normal weight children. Further steps would include a prospective or longitudinal study that could help further characterize this relationship.