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Effect of Sleep Disorders on Blood Pressure and Hypertension in Children

Lourdes M DelRosso1, Maria Paola Mogavero2, Raffaele Ferri3

  • 1Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA. lourdesdelrosso@me.com.

Current Hypertension Reports
|September 7, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Sleep disorders are linked to hypertension in children, with evidence suggesting early cardiovascular changes. Obstructive sleep apnea in children can cause increased sympathetic activity and elevated blood pressure.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Adult studies clearly link sleep disorders, poor sleep quality, and sleep deprivation to hypertension and cardiovascular risk.
  • Evidence in children is less robust but indicates early cardiovascular changes associated with sleep disorders.
  • Sleep disorders are increasingly recognized as a significant factor in pediatric health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pathophysiologic basis of hypertension in children with sleep disorders.
  • To synthesize current medical literature on the link between sleep disorders and hypertension in pediatric populations.
  • To highlight the cardiovascular implications of sleep disturbances in children.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing medical studies.
  • Analysis of pathophysiologic mechanisms connecting sleep disorders and hypertension.
  • Synthesis of evidence from pediatric and adult sleep and hypertension research.

Main Results:

  • Children with obstructive sleep apnea exhibit increased sympathetic activation during sleep.
  • Evidence suggests blunted blood pressure dipping or elevated pressures in children with obstructive sleep apnea.
  • While data on narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome in children is limited, adult data and some pediatric findings exist.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep disorders represent a critical, yet often overlooked, factor in pediatric hypertension.
  • Early identification and management of sleep disorders may mitigate cardiovascular risk in children.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex relationship between various sleep disorders and hypertension in children.
Abstract

Keywords:
Children sleep disordersHypertensionObstructive sleep apnea sleep insufficiency

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