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Value of repeated blood pressure measurements in children--the Brompton study
Insights
Blood pressure tracking in infants begins around age 1 and strengthens significantly by age 4. This early tracking indicates future adult blood pressure values, crucial for pediatric hypertension research.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Establishing normal blood pressure ranges in infants is essential for early detection of cardiovascular risks.
- Longitudinal studies are needed to understand blood pressure development and tracking in early childhood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the onset and strength of blood pressure tracking in infants from early life to 4 years of age.
- To determine if early childhood blood pressure measurements can predict later values.
Main Methods:
- Systolic blood pressure was measured in 1797 infants at 4 days old.
- Measurements were repeated at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and annually until 4 years of age.
- Serial correlation coefficients, adjusted for weight and consciousness, were calculated to assess blood pressure tracking.
Main Results:
- Mean systolic blood pressure increased from 76 mm Hg at 4 days to 96 mm Hg at 6 weeks.
- Blood pressure tracking was weak but significant before 1 year of age (r < 0.2).
- Tracking strength increased with age, reaching a correlation coefficient of 0.47 between 3 and 4 years.
Conclusions:
- Blood pressure tracking in children begins around 1 year of age and becomes substantially stronger by 4 years.
- Early childhood blood pressure (1-4 years) may indicate future adult blood pressure levels.
- Findings support the importance of monitoring blood pressure in early childhood for long-term cardiovascular health.
Abstract:
Systolic blood pressure were measured in 1797 infants aged 4 days and then repeated at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and then yearly until 4 years of age. The mean pressure rose from 76 mm Hg at 4 days to 96 mm Hg at 6 weeks but did not vary appreciably between subsequent measurements. Serial correlation coefficients of blood pressure adjusted for weight and degree of consciousness were calculated, comparing measurements at each age. At ages under 1 year the correlation coefficients were relatively weak, though most were significant (r < 0.2). As the children grew older these serial correlations became stronger, so that the correlation coefficient in blood pressure between ages 3 and 4 years was 0.47. These observations suggest that "tracking" for blood pressure starts at about 1 year and is much stronger by 4 years. Taken in conjunction with the findings of other long-term follow-up studies in older children, this suggests that children develop blood pressures indicative of their adult values between 1 and 4 years.