Abstract MP64: Higher Visit-to-Visit Blood Pressure Variability In Early And Middle Childhood Is Associated With Higher Blood Pressure In Adolescence

Abstract

Background: In young adults, higher blood pressure (BP) and visit-to-visit BP variability are independent risk factors for incident cardiovascular disease. No studies have examined if BP and visit-to-visit BP variability during early and middle childhood are independently associated with elevated BP during adolescence. Addressing this question can provide targets for primordial prevention of high BP. Hypotheses: Higher BP and BP variability in early and middle childhood are independently associated with higher BP in adolescence. Methods: We studied 476 children in the Boston Birth Cohort (enrolled 1998-2016) who had BP measured in early (1 to <6 y) or middle childhood (6 to <13y) and in adolescence (13 to <18 y). We modelled visit-to-visit BP variability using variability independent of the mean (VIM). We used linear regression models to examine the associations of mean BP and BP VIM in early and middle childhood (exposures) with mean BP in adolescence (outcome) and adjusted for potential confounders (see Table footnote). Results: After multivariable adjustment, a 1-SD higher level of systolic BP (SBP) in early and middle childhood was associated with a 1.89 (95% CI: 1.03, 2.75) and a 4.31 (95% CI: 3.58, 5.03) mmHg higher SBP in adolescence, respectively. A 1-SD higher level of SBP VIM in early and middle childhood was associated with a 1.46 (95% CI: 0.54, 2.38) and a 0.89 (95% CI: 0.05, 1.73) mmHg higher SBP in adolescence, respectively. Higher diastolic BP (DBP) in early and middle childhood was also associated with higher adolescence DBP, but the magnitude was smaller in comparison with SBP results ( Table ). Childhood DBP VIM was not associated with DBP in adolescence. Conclusion: In this prospective US predominantly minority birth cohort, both BP levels and variability during early and middle childhood are associated with higher BP in adolescence. Our findings underscore the need for health professionals to collect early-life BP data to facilitate opportunities for the primordial prevention of high BP in adolescence and beyond.