Hypertension In Children Research Articles

ESTIMATION OF DAILY SALT INTAKE IN CHILDREN WITH ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION

Objective: The development of arterial hypertension is influenced by genetic and environmental factors, with high salt intake being a known environmental contributor. This study aimed to estimate daily salt intake in children with essential arterial hypertension and in normotensive children, and to assess the relationship between their blood pressure values and 24-h urinary sodium excretion. Design and method: Total of 26 children participated in this study; 12 children with essential arterial hypertension (HT) and 14 normotensive children (NT) (both sexes, age ranged 12–17). Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure and heart rate were measured. 24-h urine samples were analysed for excreted sodium concentration whereas daily salt intake based on 24-h urinary sodium excretion was calculated using appropriate formula. Statistical analysis was conducted by t-test (between groups), and Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation test was used to determine the correlations between blood pressure (SBP, DBP and MAP) and 24-h urinary sodium excretion (p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant). Results: Body mass index (BMI) was similar between groups. Calculated salt intake was significantly higher in children with essential hypertension compared with normotensive children. Systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean (MAP) arterial blood pressure were significantly higher in children with essential arterial hypertension compared with normotensive children, while there were no difference in heart rate between HT and NT groups. 24-h urinary sodium excretion was significantly higher in the HT compared with the NT group. 24-h urinary sodium excretion was positively associated with SBP (r = 0.673), DBP (r = 0.513) and MAP (r = 0.651). Conclusions: Even though BMI was similar, 24-h urinary sodium excretion was significantly higher in hypertensive children indicating their higher daily salt intake, which is associated with higher blood pressure in these children.

LIPID INDICES, ARTERIAL DAMAGE AND ALBUMINURIA IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH UNTREATED PRIMARY HYPERTENSION

Objective: Adult data proved that dyslipidemia is associated with cardiovascular risk. Our study aimed to analyze the relation between lipid indices, arterial damage and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) in children with primary hypertension (PH). Design and method: In 87 pediatric patients (15.10 ± 2.68 years, 60 boys, 27 girls) with untreated PH, we nalysed total, high-density, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (T-C, LDL-C, HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and lipid indices: TG/HDL-C, Non-HDL-C, T-C/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), atherogenic index (AI), lipoprotein combine index (LCI), and CHOLIndex (LDL-C - HDL-C). Additionally, we assessed 24 h ABPM, central and peripheral office BP, and arterial damage: aortic PWV, AIx75HR, cIMT, carotid arterial stiffness estimated by ultrasonic wall tracking (E-tracking - ET) and UAE [mg/24 h]. Lipid reference values were taken from the American Academy of Paediatrics 2011 Guidelines. Results: In the study group, borderline/high T-C was found in 22 (25.3%), LDL-C in 10 (11.5%), TG in 45 (51.7%), and borderline/low HDL-C in 28 (32.2%) patients; overall, 60 (69.0%) patients had dyslipidemia. Children with borderline/high LDL-C had significantly higher aPWV (5.83 ± 1.78 vs. 5.26 ± 0.78 [m/s], p = 0.047) and UAE (16 [8–122] vs. 8 [5–22] [mg/24], p = 0.034) compared to patients with normal LDL-C. In 87 studied children, UAE correlated with T-C and LDL-C (R = 0.269, p = 0.017; R = 0.245, p = 0.030) and AIx75HR with T-C (R = 0.228, p = 0.035). Also, ET augmentation index (ET AIx) correlated with HDL-C, T-C/HDL-C and AI (R = -0.245, p = 0.023; R = 0.233, p = 0.031; R = 0.233, p = 0.031), and maximal diameter of common carotid artery (D_max) with HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, T-C/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, AIP, and AI (R = -0.332, p = 0.002; R = 0.220, p = 0.042; R = 0.255, p = 0.018; R = 0.223, p = 0.039; R = 0.220, p = 0.042; R = 0.255; p = 0.018). Logistic regression revealed that the rise in CHOLIndex increased risk of elevated (>30 mg/24 h) UAE (OR: 1.035 95CI: 1.008–1.070). Conclusions: 1. Lipid disturbances are common in pediatric patients with PH 2. Elevated lipid indices are associated with common carotid artery diameter and stiffness in hypertensive children and adolescents. 3. Pediatric patients with PH and abnormal LDL cholesterol are at risk of increased aortic stiffness. 4. CHOLIndex may serve as a marker of risk of hypertensive nephropathy in pediatric patients with PH.

Percutaneous balloon and stent angioplasty in children with renal artery stenosis

Renal artery stenosis(RAS) is responsible for about 10% of secondary childhood hypertension that lead to end organ dysfunction and mortality. Angioplasty is gold intervention approach for stenosis treatment. However, there are rare studies in term of the pediatric RAS and angioplasty outcome in the children. In this Single-center, retrospective study, the medical records of pediatric RAS patients were analyzed who referred for Rajaei cardiovascular medical and research center of Tehran from 2005 to 2018. Of these, 13 patients underwent PTA (Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty) treatment. Demographic data, etiology, symptoms, presenting feature, stenosis, blood pressure, number of drugs, hematological and biochemical parameters, intervention type, treatment complication and echocardiography reports were reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS Version 23 software package. Descriptive statistics, Chi square and Pearson correlation, parametric and non-parametric tests used for statistical analysis. Our results showed headache and cardiovascular damage was most common presenting feature. PTA intervention is effective in order of 50% of patients that reduced the blood pressure and improved medical therapy. The numbers of administrated antihypertensive drugs were reduced after PTA therapy. Restenosis and contrast induced-nephropathy emerge as major complications. Higher stenosis present but not lesion length had a negative relationship with treatment success and outcome. Age, ESR and serum potassium levels predicted the treatment outcome significantly. In conclusion, this study confirm the effectiveness of PTA in the treatment of pediatric RAS but need more technical and biomedical improvement to yield higher success and outcome.

PROFILE OF HYPERTENSION IN CHILDREN AGED 3 TO 12 YEARS: EXPERIENCE FROM A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN NORTH EAST INDIA

Objective: To study the prole of hypertensive children admitted in a tertiary care hospital in the age group of 3 to 12 years. Method: It is a Prospective type Study done over 1 year from June 2019 to May 2020 in the Department of Pediatrics, Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH), a tertiary care Hospital in Assam,India. One twenty six children in the age group of 3 to 12 years meeting the inclusion criteria were admitted with hypertension. Results: During the study period a total of 3214 patients were admitted in the Pediatric Department of Silchar Medical College and Hospital. Out of which 126 patients were found to be hypertensive (3.9%). The number of males were 81(65%) and females 45(56%). The most common affected group was school going children age group (6 to 12 years). 37(29.3%) cases presented with hypertensive emergency. 22(17%) cases presented with congestive cardiac failure and 15(11.9%) cases hypertensive encephalopathy. Renal Cause of hypertension was the leading cause of admission and glomerulonephritis was the leading renal cause (80%). The mortality was 4.7% (6 out of 126 patients) and was due to complication of Glomerulonephritis. Conclusion: Hypertension is a common cause of hospitalization in children. Renal or renovascular etiology of hypertension is the most common cause of hypertension.

CURRENT PRACTICES OF BP MEASUREMENT IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ACROSS EUROPEAN COUNTRIES: A SURVEY BY THE HYPERCHILDNET COST ACTION WG ON DEVICES

Objective: Objective: The main objective was to carry out a survey on current practices of BP measurement used among health care providers involved in the care of children and adolescents. Design and method: Design and methods: A 22 questions survey was released online from September 2, 2021 to September 27, 2021. The survey's link was sent to primary care physicians and pediatricians from the 22 European COST country members and it was also posted on the HyperChildNET website. Results: Results: The survey was assessed by 476 individuals and fully completed by 293. It was answered by general practioneers and pediatricians as well as pediatric nephrologists, pediatric cardiologists and pediatric endocrinologists, half of them working in primary care and the other half in hospital settings. Office BP measurement was used for clinical decision-making by 49% of the survey respondents while 29.7% used ABPM (Ambulatory BP Monitoring) and 16% home BP measurements. Only 11% routinely screen for high BP in normotensive children (Figure). Auscultatory and oscillometric devices were used in 57% and 41% of the settings, respectively. The main reason for selecting a BP device was availability in the institution in 60%, ease to use in 25.5% and validation in the relevant age group in 11.5%. Cuff size was selected according to individual child or adolescent mid arm circumference by 55% of the responders. A usual pitfall was combining cuffs from different devices and manufactures reported by 47.7% of the responders. Moreover, 42% performed only one BP measurement at each office BP visit. There was heterogeneity on the reference values used to evaluate the BP status with 27.4% using country specific BP reference tables and the rest different guidelines’ staging schemes. Eighty-three % used published reference values and 15.4% internet-based application for BP staging in children and adolescents. Conclusions: Conclusions: Variation in practices among health care providers show the emerging need of defining criteria to benchmark the different BP measurement devices, as well as to promote awareness for the evaluation of hypertensive children across Europe.

A Novel Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography Derived Parameter That Predicts Clinical Worsening in Children with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a severe, progressive disease in children, that causes right ventricular dysfunction over time. Tissue motion annular displacement is a novel speckle-tracking derived echocardiographic parameter used in assessing ventricular function. The aim of our study was to determine the prognostic value of this echocardiographic parameter in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension. We conducted a case-control study by assessing twenty children with pulmonary arterial hypertension (idiopathic or secondary) and twenty age- and sex-matched controls, using clinical (WHO functional class, 6-min walking test), laboratory (brain natriuretic peptide level) and echocardiographic parameters (conventional and speckle-tracking derived tissue motion annular displacement) at enrolment and after one year of follow-up. According to their WHO functional class altering after one year, the pulmonary arterial hypertension patients were divided into two groups: non-worsening (eleven) and worsening (nine). The conventional echocardiographic parameters and all measured tricuspid tissue motion annular displacement indices (lateral, septal, midpoint and midpoint fractional displacement—TMADm%) were significantly lower in both pulmonary arterial hypertension groups (non-worsening and worsening) compared to controls. Comparing the worsening and non-worsening groups, only the TMADm% and brain natriuretic peptide level was significantly lower in worsening in comparison with non-worsening pulmonary arterial hypertension children (p = 0.010 and p = 0.018, respectively). In receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, we found a cut-off value of 16.15% for TMADm% and a cut-off value of 34.35 pg/mL for the brain natriuretic peptide level that can predict worsening in pulmonary arterial hypertension children. In conclusion, tricuspid annulus midpoint fractional displacement, an angle-dependent speckle-tracking derived parameter, could be a good additional parameter in the assessment of the longitudinal right ventricular systolic function and in prediction of clinical worsening in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Neonatal Renovascular Hypertension in a Pediatric Patient due to Occult Renal Artery Thrombosis: A Case Report

Renovascular Hypertension (RVH) is the most common cause of neonatal hypertension seen in Neonatal Intensive Units (NICU) [1]. It accounts for 5-25% of childhood hypertension [2] and is the most common cause of surgically correctable hypertension.

Hypertension in Patients with Insulin Resistance: Etiopathogenesis and Management in Children.

Insulin resistance (IR) is a key component in the etiopathogenesis of hypertension (HS) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Several pathways have been found to be involved in this mechanism in recent literature. For the above-mentioned reasons, treatment of HS should be specifically addressed in patients affected by DM. Two relevant recently published guidelines have stressed this concept, giving specific advice in the treatment of HS in children belonging to this group: the European Society of HS guidelines for the management of high blood pressure in children and adolescents and the American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Practice Guideline for Screening and Management of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents. Our aim is to summarize the main pathophysiological mechanisms through which IR causes HS and to highlight the specific principles of treatment of HS for children with DM.

Evaluation of Active Renin Concentration in A Cohort of Adolescents with Primary Hypertension.

Our study aimed to assess active renin concentration in children with primary hypertension. Thus, we evaluated active renin concentration, clinical parameters, office and ambulatory blood pressure, and biochemical parameters in 51 untreated adolescents with primary hypertension (median: 14.4 [interquartile range—IQR: 13.8–16.8] years) and 45 healthy adolescents. Active renin concentration did not differ between patients with hypertension and healthy children (median: 28.5 [IQR: 21.9–45.2] vs. 24.9 [IQR: 16.8–34.3] [pg/mL], p = 0.055). In the whole group of 96 children, active renin concentration correlated positively with serum potassium and office and ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Among children with hypertension, patients with isolated systolic hypertension had lower renin concentration than patients with systolic-diastolic hypertension (26.2 [IQR: 18.6–34.2] vs. 37.8 [IQR: 27.0–49.6] [pg/mL], p = 0.014). The active renin concentration did not differ between patients with isolated systolic hypertension and healthy children. In multivariate analysis, diastolic blood pressure Z-score (beta = 0.238, 95 confidence interval [0.018–0.458], p = 0.035) was the only predictor of active renin concentration in the studied children. We concluded that active renin concentration is positively associated with blood pressure and potassium in children, and diastolic blood pressure was the strongest predictor of renin level. Patients with isolated systolic hypertension may differ from patients with systolic-diastolic hypertension in less severe activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

How Far to Look?

As a nephrology fellow many decades ago, I orchestrated exhaustive workups, including renal arteriography, on some hypertensive children. While such investigations rarely uncovered important causes of hypertension, they were felt to be necessary in an era when the prevailing ethos was that children rarely had “essential” hypertension. Today, the clinical practice guidelines (CPG) of the AAP advise against such exhaustive investigations in children six years of age and older who have no features in their history or physical examination which would point to secondary hypertension.

The mediating pathways between parental separation in childhood and offspring hypertension at midlife

Social life course determinants of adult hypertension are relatively unknown. This paper examines how parental separation before age 10 relates to hypertension at age 46. Adjusting for parental confounders and considering the role of adult mediators, we aim to quantify unexplored mediating pathways in childhood using prospectively collected data. Data from the 1970 British Birth Cohort Study are utilised. Hypertension is measured by health care professionals at age 46. Potential mediating pathways in childhood include body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, illness, disability, family socioeconomic status (SES) and cognitive and developmental indicators at age 10. Additionally, we explore to what extent childhood mediators operate through adult mediators, including health behaviours, family SES, BMI and mental wellbeing. We also test for effect modification of the relationship between parental separation and hypertension by gender. Nested logistic regression models test the significance of potential mediating variables. Formal mediation analysis utilising Karlson Holm and Breen (KHB) method quantify the direct and indirect effect of parental separation on offspring hypertension at midlife. There was an association between parental separation and hypertension in mid-life in women but not men. For women, family SES and cognitive and behavioural development indicators at age 10 partly mediate the relationship between parental separation and hypertension at age 46. When adult mediators including, health behaviours, family SES, BMI and mental wellbeing are included, the associations between the childhood predictors and adult hypertension are attenuated, suggesting that these childhood mediators in turn may work through adult mediators to affect the risk of hypertension in midlife. We found family SES in childhood, cognitive and behaviour development indicators at age 10, including disruptive behaviour, coordination and locus of control in childhood, to be important mediators of the relationship between parental separation and midlife hypertension suggesting that intervening in childhood may modify adult hypertension risk.

The Importance of Office Blood Pressure Measurement Frequency and Methodology in Evaluating the Prevalence of Hypertension in Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: The SWEET International Database.

The prevalence of hypertension is higher in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) compared with those without. This retrospective analysis of a large cohort of children and adolescents with T1D from the SWEET (Better control in Pediatric and Adolescent diabeteS: Working to crEate CEnTers of Reference) international consortium of pediatric diabetes centers aimed to 1) estimate the prevalence of elevated office blood pressure (BP) and hypertension and 2) investigate the influence of BP measurement methodology on the prevalence of hypertension. A total of 27,120 individuals with T1D, aged 5-18 years, were analyzed. Participants were grouped into those with BP measurements at three or more visits (n = 10,440) and fewer than 3 visits (n = 16,680) per year and stratified by age and sex. A subgroup analysis was performed on 15,742 individuals from centers providing a score indicating BP measurement accuracy. Among participants with BP measurement at three or more visits, the prevalence of hypertension was lower compared with those with fewer than three visits (10.8% vs. 17.5% P < 0.001), whereas elevated BP and normotension were higher (17.5% and 71.7% vs. 15.3% and 67.1%, respectively; both P < 0.001). The prevalence of hypertension and elevated BP was higher in individuals aged ≥13 years than in younger ones (P < 0.001) and in male than female participants (P < 0.001). In linear regression models, systolic and diastolic BP was independently determined by the BP measurement methodology. The estimated prevalence of elevated BP and hypertension in children and adolescents with T1D is ∼30% and depends on the BP measurement methodology. Less frequent BP evaluation may overestimate the prevalence of hypertension.

The Prevalence of Post-COVID-19 Hypertension in Children

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the greatest pandemic in a century. In this study, children with mild COVID-19 infections were evaluated at least 8 weeks after the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test positivity, and the frequency of hypertension (HT) in these children was investigated. These results were compared to those of the control group, which consisted of 32 healthy children in the same age range as the trial group but who did not have COVID-19. This prospective multicenter study was conducted including children aged 10 to 18 years. There were 16 patients (16%) who had elevated systolic blood pressure, while 11 patients (11%) had stage-1 HT and 1 patient (1%) had stage-2 HT. It was revealed that children with COVID-19 had significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures than normal healthy children. The findings of this study contribute toward increasing the understanding of the sequelae of mild COVID-19 in pediatric patients.

Screening for Hypertension in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder

Screening for Hypertension in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder

Blood pressure profile, prevalence of hypertension and associated familial factors in school children in Accra, Ghana.

Essential hypertension, which is hypertension without a known cause, runs in families. Children from families with hypertension are likely to have a higher blood pressure than children from normotensive families. The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of hypertension and the associated family risk factors for hypertension in the school children. This prevalence study was conducted in six first-cycle schools in Accra, Ghana. School children between the ages of five to fourteen years were recruited into the study. A questionnaire, which gathered information on demographic data, family history, and risk factors associated with childhood hypertension and the child's clinical data, was used. An average of three blood pressure readings with an automated sphygmomanometer and height measurement was taken for each child. Blood pressure was categorized as normal, pre-hypertension, and hypertension using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reference charts. A total of 600 school children comprising 358 (59.7%) females and 242 (40.3%) males were studied. Fifty-one (8.5%) school children had elevated blood pressure. Of these, 15 (2.5%) had hypertension, while 36 (6.0%) had pre-hypertension. Two hundred and thirty-eight participants had a family history of risk factors for hypertension. Twenty-five (10.5%) children with risk factors (family history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, stroke) had elevated blood pressure (BP) compared to 7.2% of those without risk factors. Urgent positive lifestyle transformations, which should start from school to reduce the incidence of hypertension in children.

Small for gestational age: A risk factor for the development of hypertension in childhood?

Background: There is conflicting evidence regarding the association of elevated blood pressure and SGA status. Most of the studies showing positive association have demonstrated this association in children aged above 7 years.&#x0D; Objectives: To determine if there is a significant difference between the proportion of children aged 3-5 years, born-SGA and those born-AGA developing hypertension.&#x0D; Methodology: The observational cross-sectional study was carried out at a private tertiary care hospital. Clinically healthy children (age: 3-5 years) were enrolled and grouped as those who born-SGA and those who were born AGA. Blood pressure was recorded with oscillometric device and procedure was repeated three times at an interval of at least 10 minutes. The mean of three blood pressure recordings was considered as the participant’s true blood pressure. The demographic characteristics of the study population were summarized using descriptive statistics. Categorical outcomes were compared by using Chi square or Fischer exact test. For continuous outcomes, ‘t test’ was used. P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.&#x0D; Results: The study enrolled 27 SGA-born children and 27 AGA-born children. Nine children (33.33%) in the SGA group and one child (3.7%) in the AGA group developed hypertension (p= 0.011). The systolic blood pressure in the SGA group (103.20±8.62 mmHg) was significantly higher than that in the AGA group (98.58±6.60 mmHg) (p=0.031). The diastolic blood pressure (mean ± SD) in the SGA group was 62.75 ± 9.19 mm Hg. There was no significant difference between the diastolic blood pressures in the two groups (AGA: 59.00±5.11mm Hg, SGA: 62.75 ± 9.19; p= 0.07).&#x0D; Conclusion: Being born SGA was thus found to be a risk factor for hypertension in 3-5 years old children.

Abdominal CT and MRI Findings of Portal Hypertension in Children and Adults with Fontan Circulation.

Background Portal hypertension in the Fontan circulation is a function of elevated systemic venous pressure and liver fibrosis. Purpose To quantify the prevalence of radiologic evidence of portal hypertension and elevated VAST score (one point each for varices, ascites, splenomegaly, and thrombocytopenia) of 2 or greater in children and adults with Fontan circulation and to determine the association with hemodynamics and adverse outcomes. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective study of individuals with Fontan circulation who underwent abdominal MRI or CT for focal liver lesion surveillance between January 2012 and December 2019. Portal hypertension was defined as the presence of at least two of the following: varices, ascites, or splenomegaly. Fontan deterioration was defined as a composite of heart failure signs or symptoms requiring diuretic escalation, placement of a ventricular assist device, heart transplant, or death. Relationships between variables and the composite end point were assessed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Results A total of 123 patients (age range, 9-55 years; 32 children) were evaluated (median age, 23 years; IQR, 17-30 years; 63 male patients). Median time since diagnosis of Fontan circulation was 16 years (IQR, 12-23 years). Twenty-five of the 123 patients (20%) had radiologic evidence of portal hypertension, and 34 (28%) had a VAST score of 2 or greater. Fontan deterioration occurred in 25 of the 123 patients (20%); median follow-up duration was 0.4 year (IQR, 0.1-3.1 years). Compared with patients who had Fontan circulation without deterioration, patients with Fontan deterioration were more likely to have moderate or severe ventricular systolic dysfunction (P < .01), moderate or severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation (P < .01), higher Fontan pressure (P = .01), radiologic evidence of portal hypertension (P < .01), and VAST score of 2 or greater (P < .01). Conclusion Radiologic evidence of portal hypertension at abdominal imaging in children and adults with Fontan circulation was associated with higher venous pressures and an increased risk for Fontan deterioration. These characteristics may be used to identify patients who warrant comprehensive hemodynamic evaluation. © RSNA, 2022.

Effects of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring parameters on left ventricular mass index in hypertensive children.

We aimed to evaluate the effects of blood pressure (BP) values obtained by 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) of hypertensive children and adolescents on left ventricular mass index (LVMI). Patients diagnosed with HT with BP measurements confirmed with ABPM and evaluated with echocardiography for LVMI were included. The patients were divided into two groups according to their BMI as obese and nonobese. SDSs of ABPM parameters were compared between the groups. A total of 158 children with HT were included in the study. Ninety of these patients were obese. In obese and nonobese cases, mean SDS levels were similar in ABPM parameters, whereas LVMI was significantly higher in obese patients ( P = 0.049). There was a significant correlation between LVMI and 24-h SBP SDS, daytime SBP SDS, 24-h SBP load and daytime BP load. In obese cases, there was a statistically significant correlation between LVMI and 24-h SBP SDS, daytime SBP SDS, 24-h SBP load, daytime SBP load as well as nighttime SBP SDS and nighttime SBP load. When the whole group was evaluated, 24-h SBP SDS was the most effective parameter influencing LVMI ( P = 0.001). Similarly, the most effective ABPM parameter on LVMI in obese patients was 24-h SBP SDS ( P = 0.001). A significantly higher rate of LVMI in obese patients suggests that obesity itself is an effective factor on LVMI. In addition, systolic hypertension is more effective on cardiac functions compared with DBP measurements and systolic-DBP dipping ratios.

Isolated Nocturnal Hypertension in Children.

Isolated nocturnal hypertension (INH) is attracting attention because it has been shown to correlate with target organ damage as well as cardiovascular events in adults. INH has also been reported in children especially in those with underlying diseases including chronic kidney disease and some studies reported association with markers of early target organ damage. INH occupies the majority of nocturnal hypertension. On the other hand, masked hypertension is largely attributed to INH. INH is usually diagnosed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Recently, it became possible to monitor sleep blood pressure by an automated home blood pressure device feasible also in children. The epidemiology, methodology and reproducibility, pathophysiology, relation to target organ damage, and treatment of INH in children will be reviewed here along with adult data.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Variability after Adenotonsillectomy in Childhood Sleep Apnea.

To investigate the influence of adenotonsillectomy (T&A) on ambulatory blood pressure (BP) variability in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Prospective, interventional study. Children with OSA symptoms were recruited from a tertiary center. After OSA diagnosis was confirmed (ie, apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] > 1), these children underwent T&A for treatment. We performed polysomnography and 24-hour recordings of ambulatory BP before and 3 to 6 months postoperatively. Ambulatory BP variability was presented as the standard deviation of mean blood pressure in the 24-hour monitoring of ambulatory BP. Differences in BP variability among different subgroups were tested using a multivariable linear mixed model. A total of 190 children were enrolled (mean age: 7.8 ± 3.3 years; 73% were boys; 34% were obese). The AHI significantly decreased from 12.3 ± 17.0 to 2.7 ± 5.5 events/hr after T&A. Overall, daytime, and nighttime ambulatory BP did not significantly change postoperatively, and overall, daytime, and nighttime ambulatory BP variability did not differ significantly preoperatively and postoperatively. In the subgroup analysis, children aged <6 years demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in ambulatory BP variability postoperatively than those aged >6 years (nighttime diastolic BP variability: 9.9 to 7.7 vs. 8.9 to 9.4). Children with hypertension also showed a significantly greater decrease in ambulatory BP variability than those without hypertension. We concluded that overall ambulatory BP variability does not significantly change after T&A in children with OSA. Moreover, young-aged and hypertensive children demonstrate a significant decrease in BP variability after T&A. 4 Laryngoscope, 132:2491-2497, 2022.