The importance of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in children and adolescents

The objective of this study was to present our data on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in children and adolescents referred to our Department because of casual BP elevation over the 95th percentile on at least 3 visits in primary care office. ABPM studies in 139 children, 94 boys and 45 girls, mean age 14.14 (range 4-19) years, were reviewed. A total of 107 (76.98%) children had hypertension according to the ABPM criteria. Primary hypertension (PH) was diagnosed in 89 (64.03%), secondary hypertension (SH) in 18 (12.95%) and white coat hypertension (WCH) in 32 (23.02%) children. In both PH and SH groups, hypertension was predominantly systolic (60.67% and 55.56%, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in diurnal and nocturnal systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) loads between PH and SH groups. The non-dipping phenomenon was detected in 49.44%, 66.66% and 40.62% of children with PH, SH and WCH, respectively. The mean pulse pressure values were 60.41, 58.58 and 52.25 mm Hg in the PH, SH and WCH groups, respectively. A statistically significant difference was found in pulse pressure values between PH and WCH (df=55, t=6.15, P