Blood pressure connected to eye health in young children

Date:
June 29, 2020
Source:
American Heart Association
Summary:
Children with impaired microvascular health developed
higher systolic blood pressure over the course of a four-year
study. Narrowing of retinal arteries in children who began the
study with normal blood pressure predicted development of high
blood pressure during early childhood.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Young children with narrow retinal artery diameters were more likely to
develop higher blood pressure, and children with higher blood pressure
levels were more likely to develop retinal microvascular impairment
during early childhood, according to a new study published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal. This is the first
study to show this connection in children.


==========================================================================
High blood pressure, the main risk factor for the development of
cardiovascular disease (CVD), can manifest as early as childhood, and the prevalence of high blood pressure among children continues to rise. In
previous studies, analysis of blood vessels in the retina has shown
promise as a predictor of CVD risk among adults. In the study titled,
"Retinal Vessel Diameters and Blood Pressure Progression in Children," researchers sought to predict the development of high blood pressure in children over four years based on retinal blood vessel measurements.

"Hypertension continues as the main risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases and mortality," says Henner Hanssen, M.D., the
study's lead author and a professor in the department of sport, exercise
and health at the University of Basel in Switzerland. "Primary prevention strategies are needed to focus on screening retinal microvascular health
and blood pressure in young children in order to identify those at
increased risk of developing hypertension. The earlier we can provide
treatment and implement lifestyle changes to reduce hypertension,
the greater the benefit for these children." Researchers screened 262
children ages six to eight from 26 schools in Basel, Switzerland, in
2014, for baseline blood pressure and retinal arterial measurements. Both measures were taken again in 2018. Blood pressure measurements at both
baseline and follow-up were performed in a sitting position after a
minimum of five minutes of rest and were categorized based on the American Academy of Pediatrics' blood pressure guidelines. These guidelines utilize
the same measurements as the American Heart Association/American College
of Cardiology 2017 Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation,
and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults.

Results from the analysis indicate:
* children with narrower retinal vessel diameters at baseline
developed
higher systolic blood pressure at follow-up; retinal vessel
diameters could explain 29 -31% of the changes in systolic
blood pressure progression between 2014 and 2018; children with
higher blood pressure levels at baseline developed significantly
narrower arteriolar diameters at follow-up, depending on weight
and cardiorespiratory fitness; and initial blood pressure measures
explained 66-69% of the change in retinal arteriolar diameter from
baseline to follow-up.

"Early childhood assessments of retinal microvascular health and blood
pressure monitoring can improve cardiovascular risk classification. Timely primary prevention strategies for children at risk of developing
hypertension could potentially counteract its growing burden among both children and adults," said Hanssen.

Researchers noted limitations of their study include that they could
not confirm blood pressure measurements over a single 24-hour period,
so they would not account for "white coat" hypertension, a condition
where patients have high blood pressure readings when measured in
a medical setting. Developmental stage including puberty status of
each child was not accounted for in the study, as well as genetic
factors or birth weight -- variables that could impact blood pressure development and microvascular health. In addition, reference values for appropriate retinal vessel diameters in children do not currently exist,
so future studies are needed to determine age-related normal values
during childhood.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Heart_Association. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Giulia Lona, Katharina Endes, Sabrina Ko"chli, Denis Infanger, Lukas
Zahner, Henner Hanssen. Retinal Vessel Diameters and Blood
Pressure Progression in Children. Hypertension, 2020; DOI: 10.1161/
HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.14695 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200629090016.htm

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