Blood Pressure at Rest and During Exercise in Adolescents: Correlation with Cardiovascular Risk Factors in the Kieler Kinder EX.PRESS. Study

Introduction: Casual blood pressure is inconsistent in children and adolescents. For adults, the exercise blood pressure seems to be more useful than resting blood pressure. In the Kieler Kinder EXPRESS. (exercise & pressure) study, the correlation between resting and exercise blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors was investigated. Methods: Blood pressure was measured at rest and during exercise (1.5watts/kg body weight). The correlation with body-mass-index (BMA waist circumference, fitness (PWC170) and screen time was determined in 229 adolescents (14.4 +/- 1.7 years). Results: Mean resting blood pressure was 110.3 +/- 13.1/56.0 +/- 7.6 mmHg. Exercise blood pressure was 114.0 +/- 18.9/53.5 +/- 9.7 mmHg. Systolic blood pressure at rest and during exercise correlated with BMI (r = 0.329/0.308) and waist circumference (r=0.298/0.320) adjusted for age and height (p<0.003 while fitness and screen time correlated only with exercise blood pressure but not with resting blood pressure. After controlling for age and height, this correlation remained significant only between blood pressure during exercise and fitness (r=-0.206; p<0.001). 9.7% of systolic resting blood pressure values were at least high normal. In this subgroup, systolic exercise blood pressure was 16.2 mmHg higher than in other subjects (p<0.001) controlled forage. height and gender. Conclusion: Correlation between exercise blood pressure and risk factors can be observed in adolescents. Checking blood pressure during exercise might be at least as important as resting blood pressure.