Evidence of a hyperkinetic state in children with elevated blood pressure

AbstractBackground: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and elevated left ventricular mass index (LVMI) are important predictors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adults. Children with hypertension and pre-hypertension demonstrate LVH and greater LVMI compared to normotensive children. The impact of blood pressure (BP) on early changes in left ventricular properties provides an opportunity to understand and identify cardiovascular risk early in childhood.Aim: The aim of this study was to assess left ventricular structural and functional properties in a sample of children across a wide range of BP values.Subjects and methods: Children aged 11–14-years were divided into BP groups: hypertensives (HTN; ≥95th percentile; n = 21) and normotensives (NTN; <90th percentile; n = 85) based on BP measures taken at two time points. Resting supine heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO) and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were collected along with left ventricular structural and functional properties using ult...