Predictors of higher blood pressure in a clinical setting in normotensive children: a prospective study.
This study was designed to assess the predictors of a higher blood pressure (BP) in a clinical setting in a prospective cohort of normotensive children recruited in an outpatient pediatric clinical setting in Southern Brazil. The study evaluated 443 children 3-12 years of age. If the mean value of BP was greater than the 95th percentile for age, sex and height in the medical setting, children were scheduled to other two evaluations at home. The systolic BP percentile in the clinical consultation was associated with BMI and birth weight. The diastolic BP in the clinical consultation was associated with birth weight, age, and BMI. Weight excess, low birth weight and younger age were associated with a higher BP in normotensive children seen in a clinical setting. To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe the association between lower birth weight and a greater BP response to medical consultation. Our finding suggests that the tendency to higher white-coat effect is determined, at least to some extent, in intrauterine life.
Bohlke
Maristela
M
Nephrology Department, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil. mbohlke.sul@terra.com.br
Dullius
Fernanda
F
Menezes
Juliana
J
Cunha
Tiago
T
Boemer
Hayslan
H
Menezes
Adriana
A
Caruso
Paulo
P
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies