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Left ventricular diastolic function of children in high blood pressure tracking group
1Department of Pediatrics, Shimane Medical University, Japan.
Insights
Children with high blood pressure (BP) may develop abnormal left ventricular (LV) diastolic function by ages 12-15. Early monitoring of BP and LV function in children is recommended for hypertension prevention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Elevated blood pressure (BP) in childhood can track into adulthood.
- Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is an early indicator of cardiac changes.
- Understanding early cardiac alterations in pediatric hypertension is crucial for long-term health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in children with high blood pressure (BP).
- To assess if prolonged high BP tracking in children is associated with abnormal LV diastolic function.
- To identify potential early markers for cardiovascular changes in pediatric hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study tracking BP from ages 6 to 15 in high and low BP groups.
- Measurement of corrected LV isovolumic relaxation time (IRT) and peak velocity of LV dimension increase (dD/dt).
- Assessment of LV muscle volume index and correlation with diastolic BP.
Main Results:
- High BP tracking group showed significantly longer corrected IRT compared to the low BP group.
- The high BP group exhibited significantly lower LV dD/dt/D from ages 9 (girls) and 12 (boys).
- No significant difference in LV muscle volume index was observed between groups; both IRT and dD/dt/D correlated with diastolic BP.
Conclusions:
- Children with high BP tracking may have LV diastolic abnormalities by ages 12-15, without increased LV muscle volume.
- Corrected IRT and dD/dt/D serve as potential indicators of diastolic dysfunction in pediatric hypertension.
- Routine BP and LV function assessment from ages 12-15 could aid in hypertension prevention strategies.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in children with high blood pressure (BP) is abnormal. We measured the corrected LV isovolumic relaxation time (IRT), peak velocity of increase in LV dimension (dD/dt) and the LV muscle volume in a high systolic BP tracking group (10 boys and 22 girls) and a low BP tracking group (22 boys and 11 girls) at 3-year intervals from the ages of 6 to 15. The corrected IRT of the high BP tracking group was significantly longer than the low BP tracking group. Left ventricular dD/dt/D of the high BP tracking group was significantly lower than the low BP tracking group from the ages of 12 in boys and 9 in girls. The left ventricular muscle volume index of both groups, however, was not significantly different. Both corrected IRT and dD/dt/D were well correlated with diastolic BP. These data suggest that children in the high BP tracking group might have LV diastolic abnormalities from age 12 or 15, in contrast to children of the low BP tracking group, without increased LV muscle volume. Therefore, it might be useful to examine BP and LV function of children from ages 12 or 15 for prevention of hypertension.