Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Children Followed for 3 Years: Influence of Sex and Family History of Hypertension

Abstract
In 100 children (63 boys and 37 girls) aged 11.3±0.6 years ambulatory blood pressure (BP) was recorded by a semiautomatic device (Remler) 9 times per year over a period of 3 years. A sex difference in systolic BP was noted from the age of 13 years on with boys having higher values by about 6 mmHg (p < .05). This could not be explained by differences in weight. In boys parental hypertension was associated with higher systolic values independent on age (p < .05). Genetic and hormonal factors seem to influence BP during male puberty independently from each other.