Age, gender and circadian or circasemidian blood pressure and heart rate variation of children

Chronobiologia. 1992 Jul-Dec;19(3-4):121-9.

Abstract

Systolic (S) and diastolic (D) blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) of clinically healthy children (24 boys and 15 girls) 3 to 7 years of age were measured with a standard mercury sphygmomanometer at 3-hour intervals for 24 hours in April 1991. The children slept and/or rested from 2100 to 0700 and napped from 1230 to 1530; they had meals at 0730, 1200 and 1800. A statistically significant circadian and about 12-hour (circasemidian) component of variation is documented for SBP and DBP of boys and girls and for HR of boys. No gender difference was found for the circadian and circasemidian components. A positive correlation with age is found for the MESOR and circadian amplitude of SBP and DBP (p < 0.05); a negative correlation with age is found for the MESOR of HR (p < 0.001).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Activity Cycles / physiology
  • Age Factors
  • Blood Pressure / physiology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chronobiology Phenomena / physiology*
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology
  • Diastole / physiology
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Systole / physiology