Blood pressure levels in adolescents: the Milan Study

The relationship between pubertal maturation and blood pressure (BP) was investigated in a cohort of 1,252 adolescents followed for 4 years. Males and females were categorized into two groups (pre and post), according to pubic hair growth (males) and menses onset before or after the age of 12. BP tracking was higher for systolic BP (SBP) than for diastolic BP (DBP), without differences between the two groups of each sex. By multiple regression analysis, initial BP was the major predictor of the final value in all subjects. Body mass index (BMI) annual change was positively correlated to SBP change over time. Analysis of variance showed an increased within-person variability of SBP in pre subjects, with a significant reduction of DBP residual variance at higher initial DBP levels. Our results suggest that early pubertal maturation and high DBP at age 14 years characterize subjects differing at least partially from the general adolescent population in BP determinants.