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Environmental temperature and blood pressure in 9-year-old Australian children
D A Jenner1, D R English, R Vandongen
1Department of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth.
Insights
Children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Environmental Health
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology
Background:
- Blood pressure (BP) determinants in children are multifactorial.
- Environmental factors, such as temperature, may influence BP levels.
- Understanding these influences is crucial for accurate health assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between environmental temperature and blood pressure in Australian children.
- To determine if temperature variations impact systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP).
Main Methods:
- A sample of 1037 9-year-old Australian children participated.
- Three blood pressure readings were taken using a Dinamap device.
- Statistical analysis explored correlations between BP and daily temperature.
Main Results:
- Higher BP levels were observed during colder months.
- A negative correlation was found between BP and daily temperature.
- A 10°C rise in temperature was associated with a 5-7 mmHg fall in SBP and DBP.
Conclusions:
- Environmental temperature significantly influences children's blood pressure.
- Findings highlight the need to consider ambient temperature in BP epidemiological studies.
- These results are independent of child's age, weight, height, SES, and HR.
Abstract:
Relationships between blood pressure (BP) and environmental temperature were investigated as part of a broader study of constitutional and environmental determinants of BP in a sample of 1037 9-year-old Australian children. A Dinamap semi-automatic device was used to obtain three BP readings for each child. Average systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) differed according to month of examination, with higher levels in the colder months. Negative relationships were observed between BP and temperature on the measurement day; computed regression equations indicated that a rise in maximum daily temperature of 10 degrees C was associated with falls of 5-7 mmHg in SBP and DBP. The relationships were independent of age, weight, height, socio-economic status and heart rate (HR). The results emphasize the importance of taking environmental temperatures into account in epidemiological studies of BP.