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Ambulatory blood pressure profiles of children with asthma compared to healthy controls
Adem Yasin Köksoy1,2, Yurda Şimşek3, Serdar Epçaçan4
1Department of Pediatric Nephrology, University of Health Sciences Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Van, Turkey. ayasin71@gmail.com.
Insights
Children with asthma show higher blood pressure levels and an increased risk of hypertension. Inhaled corticosteroid use may contribute to elevated blood pressure in pediatric asthma patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Cardiovascular Health in Children
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Asthma and hypertension are increasingly recognized as comorbid conditions.
- Limited data exists on the specific relationship between asthma and hypertension in childhood.
- This study addresses the gap in understanding childhood asthma's impact on blood pressure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate ambulatory blood pressure profiles in children diagnosed with asthma.
- To investigate potential links between childhood asthma and hypertension development.
- To explore the influence of inhaled corticosteroids on blood pressure in pediatric asthma patients.
Main Methods:
- Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was used to assess children aged 5-18 with asthma.
- A control group of healthy, age- and sex-matched volunteers was included for comparison.
- The study enrolled 26 children with asthma and 20 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Children with asthma exhibited significantly higher mean 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime systolic blood pressure (SBP) standard deviation scores (SDS) compared to controls.
- A higher prevalence of nondipping status and masked hypertension was observed in children with asthma.
- Extended use of inhaled corticosteroids was associated with an increased odds of developing hypertension (OR 1.02, p=0.025).
Conclusions:
- Children with asthma may face a heightened risk of developing hypertension compared to their healthy peers.
- Pediatric asthma patients tend to have elevated ambulatory blood pressure readings.
- Inhaled corticosteroids might play a role in the increased blood pressure observed in children with asthma.
Background:
Studies suggest that asthma and hypertension may be comorbid conditions. Most of these studies are epidemiological research. However, data on the relationship between asthma and hypertension in childhood are limited. We aimed to evaluate ambulatory blood pressure profiles of children with asthma.
Methods:
Children aged 5-18 with asthma were evaluated using ABPM. The control group included healthy age- and sex-matched volunteers. A total of 26 patients with asthma and 20 controls were enrolled.
Results:
Children with asthma had higher mean 24-h systolic blood pressure (SBP) SDS (standard deviation score) compared to controls (mean difference: 0.84, 0.19 ± 1.14 vs. - 0.65 ± 1.09, p = 0.015). Daytime SBP SDS was higher in those with asthma (mean difference: 0.83, 0.009 ± 1.22 vs. - 0.82 ± 1.09, p = 0.021), as was nighttime SBP SDS (mean difference: 0.74, 0.64 ± 1.09 vs. - 0.10 ± 0.79, p = 0.013). Median nighttime SBP load was higher in those with asthma (p = 0.006). Nondipping status was found in 23.1% of patients with asthma (none in controls, p = 0.021). One patient (3.8%) had ambulatory hypertension and six (23.1%) had masked hypertension (none in controls, p = 0.042). Extended use of inhaled corticosteroids was associated with a 2% increase in the odds of developing hypertension (OR 1.02, p = 0.025).
Conclusions:
Children with asthma may be at greater risk for developing hypertension compared to healthy counterparts. Ambulatory blood pressure tends to be higher in children with asthma than healthy peers. Inhaled steroids potentially contribute to elevated BP levels in children with asthma.
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