Factors Affecting the Exercise Capacity in Pediatric Primary Hypertension

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pediatrics
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Pediatric primary hypertension (PHT) requires early intervention, yet exercise capacity in affected children is poorly understood.
• Understanding exercise capacity is vital for developing effective rehabilitation and management strategies for pediatric PHT.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and quantify exercise capacity in children diagnosed with PHT.
• To identify key factors influencing exercise capacity in pediatric PHT patients.

Main Methods:

• The study enrolled 190 children with PHT, assessing exercise capacity using the Bruce protocol on a treadmill exercise test (TET).
• Statistical analyses, including multivariate ordinal logistic regression and generalized linear models, were employed to determine factors affecting exercise capacity.

Main Results:

• Children with lower diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and 24-hour average diastolic blood pressure (ADBP) achieved higher TET stages and metabolic equivalents (METs).
• Factors negatively associated with completing TET stages and achieving higher METs included female gender, younger age, greater body mass index (BMI), and higher 24-hour ADBP.

Conclusions:

• Exercise capacity is demonstrably impaired in pediatric PHT patients.
• Female sex, younger age, increased BMI, and elevated 24-hour ADBP are independent predictors of reduced exercise capacity in this population.
• These findings can inform the creation of tailored exercise prescriptions for children with PHT.