Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Increased Left Ventricular Mass in Children at Risk for Hypertension

Objective

To relate ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) to cardiac target organ measurement in children at risk for primary hypertension (HTN).

Study design

Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and ABP were measured concomitantly in children (6 to 18 years) at risk for hypertension using a cross-sectional study design.

Results

LVMI showed a significant positive correlation with 24-hour systolic blood pressure (SBP) load, SBP index (SBPI), and standard deviation score (SDS). When subjects were stratified by LVMI percentile, there were significant differences in SBP load, 24-hour SBPI, and 24-hour SSDS. The odds ratio (OR) of having elevated LVMI increased by 54% for each incremental increase of SDS in 24-hour SSDS after controlling for race and BMI (OR = 1.54, unit = 1 SDS, CI = 1.1, 2.15, P = .011) and increased by 88% for each increase of 0.1 in BPI (OR = 1.88, CI = 1.03, 3.45, P = .04). Subjects with stage 3 HTN had significantly greater mean LVMI compared with normal subjects (P = .002 by ANOVA; LMVI, 31.6 ± 7.9 versus 39.5 ± 10.4).

Conclusions

As systolic ABP variables increase, there is greater likelihood for increased LVMI. Staging based on ABPM allows assessment of cardiovascular risk in children with primary hypertension.

Abbreviations: ABP, Ambulatory blood pressure, ABPM, ABP monitoring, BMI, Body mass index, DBP, Diastolic blood pressure, HTN, Hypertension, LVMI, Left ventricular mass index, SBP, Systolic blood pressure, SDS, Standard deviation scores, WCH, White coat hypertension