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Archivos argentinos de pediatría

Print version ISSN 0325-0075On-line version ISSN 1668-3501

Arch. argent. pediatr. vol.116 no.5 Buenos Aires Oct. 2018

http://dx.doi.org/10.5546/aap.2018.328 

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

http://dx.doi.org/10.5546/aap.2018.eng.328

Prevalence of masked hypertension among children with risk factors for arterial hypertension

 

Adriana Iturzaeta, M.D.a, Luis Pompozzi, M.D.b, Claudia Casas Rey, B.S.b, Irma Passarelli, M.D.a and Fernando Torres, M.D.a

a. Hospital General de Niños "Pedro de Elizalde".
b. Hospital de Niños "Dr. J. P. Garrahan." Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.

E-mail address: Adriana Iturzaeta, M.D.: aiturzaeta@ yahoo.com.ar

Funding: This study was conducted with the support of the "Ramón Carrillo-Arturo Oñativia" scholarship program, individual category, granted by the National Ministry of Health of Argentina through the National Health Research Committee (Comisión Nacional Salud Investiga). Year 2015. National Registry of Health Research (Registro Nacional de Investigaciones en Salud, RENIS), Argentine Integrated Health Care Information System (Sistema Integrado de Información Sanitaria Argentino, SISA): health research code no. IS000927.

Conflict of interest: None.

Received: 11-28-2017
Accepted: 4-16-2018

 


ABSTRACT

Introduction. Masked hypertension (MH) in children is defined as normal office blood pressure values and high values outside the clinical setting. The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is helpful for diagnosis. There is little information on MH prevalence in our population.
Objective. To estimate the prevalence of MH in children with risk factors for arterial hypertension.
Material and method. Prospective, observational, cross-sectional study. Patients seen at Hospital General de Niños "P. de Elizalde" between July 1st, 2015 and December 1st, 2016, aged 5-11 years, with normal blood pressure and at least one risk factor for arterial hypertension were included in consecutive order. A 24-hour ABPM was done (SpaceLabs 90207/90217). Estimated sample: 110 patients. All relevant authorizations were obtained.
Results. One hundred and ten patients aged 8.7 ± 1.8 years were included; 60 were girls. ABPM duration: 23.18 ± 1.8 hours. Twenty-three patients had neonatal history; all had at least one factor corresponding to personal history (the most common ones were increased salt intake and obesity); 101 had at least one factor corresponding to family history. ABPM helped to identify 10 patients with MH (9.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.1-15.9); 7 had isolated nocturnal hypertension (6.4%; 95% CI: 3.1-23.5) and 28 had prehypertension (25.4%; 95% CI: 18.234.3). Among the 10 patients with MH, 7 were boys, 9 were obese and had at least one factor corresponding to family history.
Conclusion. The prevalence of MH in children with risk factors for arterial hypertension was close to 10%.

Key words: Masked hypertension; Hypertension; Risk factors; Pediatrics.


 

INTRODUCTION

Masked hypertension (MH) in pediatrics is defined by normal office blood pressure (BP) values and high values outside the clinical setting.1MH may be diagnosed with 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), which, in addition, may also report other BP patterns (nocturnal hypertension, prehypertension).2

MH is a known, modifiable risk factor for arterial hypertension (HTN), and may potentially damage target organs.3,4 The guidelines for MH diagnosis in children propose BP monitoring with repeated measurements using the auscultatory and oscillometric methods, and 24-hour ABPM.1-3

In our setting, the study of children with risk factors for HTN does not include the systematic use of ABPM. There is evidence to recommend ABPM in the following cases: in children with isolated office BP values greater than the 95th percentile; to diagnose "white coat HTN"; to assess BP patterns and risk for target-organ damage; to assess drug therapy effectiveness; in patients with HTN-associated chronic conditions (overweight/obesity, dyslipemias, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, transplants, neurofibromatosis type I, Turner syndrome, and coarctation of the aorta), and to diagnose MH.5-8

According to Lurbe et al., MH is not an innocent phenomenon, and it is still necessary to gain more knowledge on its clinical significance, adequately identify children at a higher risk, and implement health and/or pharmacological measures aimed at its management.2,4

There are not sufficient data on the prevalence of MH in our population.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of MH, isolated nocturnal hypertension (INH), and prehypertension in children who had at least one risk factor for HTN.

MATERIAL AND METHOD Design

Observational, cross-sectional study with prospective data capture.

POPULATION Inclusion criteria

Children aged 5-11 years with normal office BP and at least one risk factor for HTN, who attended an outpatient visit at Hospital General de Niños "P. de Elizalde" (HGNPE) for a health checkup, were referred to the HTN service between July 1st, 2015 and December 1st, 2016, and gave their informed consent and/or assent were included in consecutive order.

Exclusion criteria

Patients receiving antihypertensive treatment or those with acute kidney disease were excluded.

Risk factors

The risk factors for HTN that were considered for inclusion were divided into three categories (neonatal, personal, and family history).

Neonatal history

• Prematurity: less than 37 weeks of gestational age (any gestational age assessment method).

• Low birth weight (LBW): birth weight < 2500 grams (term infants).

• History of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR): birth weight or length < 2 standard deviations (based on gestational age).

• History of umbilical cord cannulation.

Personal history

• Isolated high BP (systolic BP and/or diastolic BP): greater than the 95th percentile (for height, age, and sex).

• Overweight/obesity: as per the body mass index (BMI).9

• Dyslipemia: low density lipoproteincholesterol (LDL) and/or triglycerides > 95th percentile.9

• Type I and type II diabetes.10

• Chronic steroid administration: more than 1 mg/kg/day of prednisone per day (or equivalent dosage) for more than 3 weeks.11

• Recurrent urinary tract infections: 2 or more in a year.

• Nephropathy or urologic disease: as per nephrological diagnosis.

• Microalbuminuria: > 30 mg/24 h in 24-hour urine or urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio > 30 mg/g or μ/mg.12

• History of hemolytic uremic syndrome.

• Symptoms suggestive of secondary HTN: polyuria, nocturia and/or hematuria.

• Neurofibromatosis type I: confirmed by the dermatology or genetics service.

• Turner syndrome, Williams syndrome.

• Coarctation of the aorta.

• Increased salt (ClNa) intake: defined by the addition of salt to foods, as referred by the child or his/her caregiver.

• Passive smoking: a family member who smoked at home.

• Sedentary lifestyle: less than 30 minutes of regular exercise per day and less than 3 days a week.13

• Renal, abdominal and/or cranial trauma injuries: as documented in the medical record.

• Sleep disorders: nocturnal snoring and/or sleep apnea.2

• Seizures of unknown etiology: as documented in the medical record.

Family history of cardiovascular risk (parents, grandparents or siblings)

• Family HTN.

• Early cardiovascular events (< 55 years old in males, < 65 years old in females).

• Type I and type II diabetes mellitus.

• Familial polycystic kidney disease.

Procedure

Once the informed consent and/or assent was obtained, BP was measured 3 times using the auscultatory method in the upper and lower limbs (Riester sphygmomanometer) and 3 times using the oscillometric method in the upper limbs (Omron 7200).14 The first reading was excluded and the second and third ones were averaged for the regression-to-mean effect and patient positioning. All instruments were calibrated regularly.14

If normal BP was confirmed with both methods, a 24-hour ABPM with oscillometric method (SpaceLabs 90207/90217, Redmond, Washington) was scheduled. A normal day in terms of school or activities was selected for the ABPM. Readings were scheduled every 20 minutes in the waking state and every 30 minutes during sleep.15

Outcome measures

Primary outcome measures

• MH: it was defined as an average ambulatory systolic BP (SBP) and/or diastolic BP (DBP) value during the day or while doing an activity greater than the 95th percentile by sex and height. Categorical outcome measure.2,16 Other possible ABPM results that did not match MH diagnosis2 were considered secondary outcome measures:

• INH: it was defined as an average ambulatory BP during the day or while doing an activity below the 95th percentile and nighttime values greater than the 95th percentile by sex and height. Categorical outcome measure.2,17

• Prehypertension: it was defined as an average ambulatory SBP and/or DBP below the 95th percentile, with more than 25% of BP readings greater than the 95th percentile for each period. Categorical outcome measure.2,17

Control outcome measures

• Decimal age: in years at the time of the ABPM.

• Heart rate: measured by radial pulse palpation over 1 minute.

Statistical analysis

For the description, absolute numbers and proportions with their corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were used for categorical outcome measures and mean or median with standard deviation or quartiles were used for continuous outcome measures, based on their adjustment or not to normality (Kolmogorov-Smirnov).

The absolute number of patients with MH (numerator) divided by the total number of screened patients (denominator) multiplied by 100 was used to estimate the prevalence of MH as a percentage. The same procedure was used to estimate the prevalence of INH and prehypertension. All values were expressed with their 95% CI.

The SPSS 10.0 software was used for analysis.

Sample size

The sample size was calculated to estimate an expected 10 ± 5% prevalence of MH with a 95% CI, together with a 10% for failure in adherence; a sample of 110 patients was therefore necessary (StatCalc, Epi Info 7 CDC).

Ethical considerations

The study followed the Good Clinical Practice Guidelines (guidelines for facilities that are part of the Government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires). The Teaching and Research Committee and the Research Ethics Committee of HGNPE authorized the study.18 Data confidentiality was warranted and an informed consent and assent were obtained in all cases. Patients with alterations in the ABPM were referred to the HTN service for BP management.

RESULTS


ABPM: 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
MH: masked hypertension.
INH: isolated nocturnal hypertension.

General diagram of the study

Among the 110 patients who entered the study (all patients assessed and no missing data), their average age was 8.74 ± 1.8 years, and 60 were girls (Table 1 of the Annex).

Neonatal history, personal risk factors, and family history are summarized in Table 1 of the Annex. Twenty-three patients had neonatal history; all had at least one factor corresponding to personal history and 101 had at least one factor corresponding to family history. Considering a pool of the 3 types of history (neonatal, personal, and family), 65 patients had between 7 and 10 factors overall, whereas 12 had 11 or more factors.

The ABPM was done in the 110 participants and helped to identify 10 patients with MH, with a prevalence of 9.1% (95% CI: 5.1-15.98%). In addition, 7 patients had INH (6.4%; 95% CI: 3.1-23.5%), and 28 patients were diagnosed with prehypertension (25.4%; 95% CI: 18.2-34.3%). ABPM recording times, the number of daily readings, and results are shown in Table 2 of the Annex.

The analysis of patients with MH (n= 10) showed that 7 boys and 9 obese or overweight patients had at least one factor corresponding to family history. The average 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime SBP, DBP, and mean blood pressure (MBP) values (ABPM) of patients with Mh were higher than those of patients with a normal ABPM.

A total of 45 patients had a pathological ABPM (MH= 10, INH= 7, and prehypertension= 28); the rest (n= 65) were considered to have a normal ABPM. Office BP controls using the auscultatory and oscillometric methods and the average 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime SBP, DBP, and MBP values (ABPM) of patients with a pathological ABPM were higher than those of patients with a normal ABPM (Table 3 of the Annex).

DISCUSSION

In this study, the prevalence values of MH, INH and prehypertension were 9.1%, 6.4%, and 25.4%, respectively.

The prevalence of MH observed here was similar to that reported globally, which estimated a 10-15% MH prevalence among pediatric patients.3,4 In 2004, Matsuoka and Awazu reported an 11% prevalence of MH among children; however, that study included patients aged 6-25 years.19 Our sample included younger patients (5-11 years old), which may account for the lower prevalence observed here, which was closer to the prevalence reported in other studies conducted in children and adolescents, with a rate from 7.6% to 9.4%.4 This is also supported by other publications that found a lower MH prevalence among younger children.20,21

The average ambulatory SBP and/or DBP values recorded during daytime or while doing activities greater than the 95th percentile for sex and height was established as the cut-off point for MH, according to the ABPM reference standard values in pediatrics recommended by a German Task Force based on a multicenter study.17,21 Such strict rule to consider MH may have also affected our MH prevalence.

In relation to the risk factors for HTN, the most common ones were increased salt intake and obesity. The bibliography showed that male sex and obesity were risk factors for MH.22 An association with male sex was not confirmed. Although most patients with MH had a high BMI, the small number of observations prevented us from confirming such associations.

Lurbe et al. demonstrated significantly higher office SBP and DBP values among patients with MH.4 In our study, no significant differences were observed in the average office SBP and DBP values between patients with and without MH. ABPM recordings were significantly higher in the MH group, thus demonstrating the usefulness of ABPM to unmask HTN in children with risk factors for HTN.4

As part of the study's secondary outcomes, we found patients with INH; this finding is of prognostic value.23 Some authors consider it is as relevant as daytime HTN and should be considered MH because it is associated with microalbuminuria and has demonstrated a more rapid progression to chronic kidney failure.15 In relation to prehypertension, further studies are required to assess its predictive value for targetorgan damage.15,17

This study has potential weaknesses that should be taken into consideration. It was not designed to establish risk factors but to estimate the prevalence of MH. Therefore, the number of patients with MH prevented us from performing an analysis of inference that would allow to observe statistically significant results (type II error).

The study's prospective design enabled an adequate control of the study outcome measure, which prevented potential biases. In addition, we implemented a strict criterion for patient entry, which included 4-limb BP measurement using 2 different methods 3 consecutive times. Lastly, the implementation of the ABPM showed acceptable values in relation to the number of hours it was used and the number of readings, which indicated an adequate result consistency.

CONCLUSION

In the studied sample, the prevalence of MH in children who had at least one risk factor for HTN was slightly below 10%.

In addition, the prevalence of INH was 6.4% and that of prehypertension, 25.4%.

Further studies are required to confirm these results.

Annex

Table 1. Risk factors for arterial hypertension by sex

Table 2. Twenty-four hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring recordings in children with riskfactorsfor arterial hypertension

Table 3: Average blood pressure recordings** in patients with pathological and normal 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure

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