Question

The blood pressure of a population was tracked from childhood to adulthood. It was observed that those who had lower BP in childhood had low BP in adulthood, while those who had higher BP in childhood had high BP in adulthood. This can be best described as

• A. Rule of halves
• B. Tracking of blood pressure
• C. STEPwise approach
• D. Primordial approach

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The scenario described refers to a concept known as "Tracking of blood pressure." In epidemiology, tracking is the tendency for certain physiological characteristics, like blood pressure, to remain relatively stable over time, meaning individuals retain their position relative to their peers as they age. Here’s a detailed explanation:

• Definition: Tracking refers to the consistency of a trait or characteristic over time within an individual relative to the population they are compared with.
• Application: In the context of blood pressure, this means that those with lower blood pressure during childhood tend to maintain lower levels compared to their peers into adulthood, and vice versa for higher levels.
• Importance: Understanding tracking helps in predicting future health outcomes and targeting early interventions for individuals at risk of developing hypertension.

This phenomenon is distinct from the other options:

• Rule of halves: Refers to the observation in healthcare that half of patients with a particular condition may be undiagnosed, half of those diagnosed might not be treated, and even half of those treated might not be managed effectively.
• STEPwise approach: A systematic approach to health interventions, often used by WHO for implementing strategies aimed at controlling risk factors for chronic diseases.
• Primordial prevention: Focuses on preventing the emergence of risk factors in the first place, targeting environmental and lifestyle factors.

Hence, the correct answer reflecting the continuity of blood pressure levels from childhood to adulthood is:

Tracking of blood pressure