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Twenty four hour intermittent, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
M Egger1, M G Bianchetti, M Gnädinger
1Division of Pediatric Nephrology, University Children's Hospital, Berne, Switzerland.
Insights
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in children shows significant differences between genders and positive correlations with physical metrics. This method effectively captures individual diurnal patterns for blood pressure and heart rate.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is crucial for understanding cardiovascular health in children.
- Previous studies have established ABPM's utility in adults, but data in pediatric populations require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of ABPM in children aged 10-16.
- To analyze diurnal variations and gender-specific differences in blood pressure and heart rate.
- To identify factors influencing these measurements in pediatric subjects.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a portable automated monitor for intermittent measurements of blood pressure and heart rate every 30 minutes during the day and hourly at night.
- Recruited 43 children (20 girls, 23 boys) aged 10-16 years.
- Assessed apparatus acceptance and failure rates across different demographics and time periods.
Main Results:
- The monitoring device was better accepted by girls than boys, with a lower failure rate during daytime measurements.
- Overall failure rate was 22%, comparable to adult studies.
- Mean blood pressure was significantly higher in boys (126/72 mm Hg) than girls (109/64 mm Hg).
- Blood pressure correlated positively with age, body weight, and height.
- No significant gender or age influence on heart rate was observed.
- A positive correlation existed between heart rate and blood pressure variations.
Conclusions:
- Intermittent ABPM is a suitable method for measuring individual diurnal patterns of blood pressure and heart rate in children.
- Gender-based differences in blood pressure exist in this pediatric cohort.
- Apparatus tolerance and measurement accuracy are influenced by factors like gender and time of day.
Abstract:
Blood pressure and heart rate were measured every 30 minutes during the day and every hour during the night in 43 children (20 girls and 23 boys, aged 10 to 16) with a portable automated monitor. The apparatus was better accepted in girls than in boys, and the failure rate was lower during the day. The overall failure rate was 22%, which corresponds with comparable studies in adults. During the night blood pressure and heart rate fell by 10% and 14% of the daytime values, respectively. Mean (SD) blood pressure was significantly higher in boys than in girls (126/72 (17/8) v 109/64 (9/5) mm Hg) and measurements correlated positively with age, body weight, and height of the subjects. Heart rate was not significantly influenced by gender or age. A positive correlation between heart rate and blood pressure was found when expressed as standard normal deviations or hourly variations. In children intermittent monitoring of ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate is a suitable method for measuring individual diurnal patterns.