Network for blood pressure research in children and adolescents (COST Action CA 19115)

High blood pressure is a clearly established modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular and renal disease. Although most of its adverse effects develop in adulthood, it has become clear that high BP is a lifelong problem that can manifest early in life. While few would dispute the importance of taking effective steps to identify and manage this condition in middle-aged and elderly individuals, relatively little attention has been paid to the problem of high BP in children and adolescents. Therefore,the development of actions focused on early childhood, childhood and adolescence and the investigation of the underlying causes of this epidemic are of utmost importance. There is a pressing need for comprehensive pan-European action to increase the knowledge on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure in children and adolescents, the current scarcity of which impedes the development of consensus across different research fields and hinders efforts to introduce changes in clinical practice. There are some aspects that demand urgent action: the definition of hypertension, the prevalence of high BP in Europe, accurate measurement for early identification, the assessment of hypertension-mediated organ damage and the development and implementation of prevention strategies. In order to provide answers to all of these unanswered questions and challenges, a multidisciplinary network was established, maintained and funded by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology(COST) Association. COST is a funding organization for the creation of research networks known as COST Actions. In this case, the network will promote coordinated and collaborative activities on personalized preventive measures for children and adolescents across Europe. © 2021 Published by Elsevier Espana'-

European Network for blood pressure research in children and adolescents

High blood pressure is a clearly established modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular and renal disease. Although most of its adverse effects develop in adulthood, it has become clear that high BP is a lifelong problem that can manifest early in life. While few would dispute the importance of taking effective steps to identify and manage this condition in middle-aged and elderly individuals, relatively little attention has been paid to the problem of high BP in children and adolescents. Therefore, the development of actions focused on early childhood, childhood and adolescence and the investigation of the underlying causes of this epidemic are of utmost importance. There is a pressing need for comprehensive pan-European action to increase the knowledge on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure in children and adolescents, the current scarcity of which impedes the development of consensus across different research fields and hinders efforts to introduce changes in clinical practice. There are some aspects that demand urgent action: the definition of hypertension, the prevalence of high BP in Europe, accurate measurement for early identification, the assessment of hypertension-mediated organ damage and the development and implementation of prevention strategies. In order to provide answers to all of these unanswered questions and challenges, a multidisciplinary network was established, maintained and funded by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Association. COST is a funding organization for the creation of research networks known as COST Actions. In this case, the network will promote coordinated and collaborative activities on personalized preventive measures for children and adolescents across Europe

Assessment of total body water in paediatric patients on dialysis

Background Various anthropometric techniques are used to assess total body water in children on dialysis; however, their predictive accuracy and precision has not been validated. Methods We compared total body water measurements obtained by deuterium oxide (D2O) dilution with predictions of total body water from (1) height and weight, (2) skinfold measurements, and (3) bioelectrical impedance analysis, using previously published formulae for healthy children. Measurements were performed in 14 patients on peritoneal and in nine patients on haemodialysis, aged 4-22 years. Results In the total population of dialysed patients, weight was the strongest single predictor of total body water (R2=0.93) followed by the resistance index (RI=height2/impedance; R2=0.85) and height (R2=0.93). A prediction formula based on height and weight predicted total body water with a residual mean square error (RMSE) of 1.97 l (coefficient of variation (CV)=10.0%) and with a systematic overestimation of true total body water by 0.4%. A prediction equation based on skinfold measurements yielded a total body water estimate with an RMSE of 2.15 1 (CV=10.5%) and overpredicted true total body water by an average of 2.2%. Using three published prediction equations incorporating RI, RMSEs of 2.78 1 (CV=14.1%) with a mean under- or overestimation of true total body water by 6.9, 7.1, and 0.8% respectively, were achieved. The prediction of total body water was optimized by linear combinations of RI or the log-transformed sum of four skinfolds (logsum) with weight by the following equations: total body water (1) = 9.97−3.13×logsum +0.59×weight (kg) (1) (R2 = 0.951; RMSE=1.67 1; CV = 8.17%). total body water (1) = 1.99 + 0.144 × RI (Ohm/cm2) + 0.40 × weight (kg) (2) (R2 = 0.949; RMSE = 1.671; CV = 8.53%). The fit of these prediction formulae, which were derived from the total population, did not differ significantly between haemo- and peritoneal dialysis patients or between boys and girls. Conclusions Both skinfold measurements and bioelectrical impedance analysis can be used to improve the height- and weight- based prediction of total body water in children on dialysi

Circadian and ultradian cardiovascular rhythmicity in obese children.

UNLABELLED Altered circadian and ultradian blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) rhythmicity have been described in diseases with increased cardiovascular risk. We analyzed cardiovascular rhythmicity in obese children. BP and HR rhythmicity was assessed with Fourier analysis from 24-h ambulatory BP measurements in 75 obese children and compared with an age- and gender-matched, lean healthy reference group of 150 subjects. Multivariate regression analysis was applied to identify significant independent factors explaining variability of rhythmicity. Prevalence of 24- and 6-h BP rhythmicity in the obese group was lower (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02), whereas the prevalence of HR rhythmicity was comparable in both groups. Excluding hypertensive participants, the results remained similar. Twenty-four-hour BP and HR acrophase were delayed in obese children (p = 0.004, p < 0.0001), 24-h BP amplitude did not differ (p = 0.07), and 24-h HR amplitude was blunted (p = < 0.0001). BP Mesor in the obese group was higher (p = 0.02); HR Mesor did not differ (p = 0.1). Multivariate regression analysis failed to identify a single anthropometric or blood pressure parameter explaining the variability of BP and HR rhythmicity. CONCLUSION Prevalence and parameters of circadian and ultradian BP and HR rhythmicity in obese children are altered compared to a healthy reference group, independent of preexisting hypertension. WHAT IS KNOWN • Altered cardiovascular rhythmicity has been described in children with different diseases such as primary hypertension or chronic renal failure. What is New: • This study reveals altered cardiovascular rhythmicity in obese children compared to an age and gender-matched healthy reference group independent from preexisting hypertension

2016 European Society of Hypertension guidelines for the management of high blood pressure in children and adolescents

Increasing prevalence of hypertension (HTN) in children and adolescents has become a significant public health issue driving a considerable amount of research. Aspects discussed in this document include advances in the definition of HTN in 16 year or older, clinical significance of isolated systolic HTN in youth, the importance of out of office and central blood pressure measurement, new risk factors for HTN, methods to assess vascular phenotypes, clustering of cardiovascular risk factors and treatment strategies among others. The recommendations of the present document synthesize a considerable amount of scientific data and clinical experience and represent the best clinical wisdom upon which physicians, nurses and families should base their decisions. In addition, as they call attention to the burden of HTN in children and adolescents, and its contribution to the current epidemic of cardiovascular disease, these guidelines should encourage public policy makers to develop a global effort to improve identification and treatment of high blood pressure among children and adolescents

Obesity and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors : from Childhood to Adulthood

Obesity has become a major epidemic in the 21st century. It increases the risk of dyslipidemia, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes, which are known cardiometabolic risk factors and components of the metabolic syndrome. Although overt cardiovascular (CV) diseases such as stroke or myocardial infarction are the domain of adulthood, it is evident that the CV continuum begins very early in life. Recognition of risk factors and early stages of CV damage, at a time when these processes are still reversible, and the development of prevention strategies are major pillars in reducing CV morbidity and mortality in the general population. In this review, we will discuss the role of well-known but also novel risk factors linking obesity and increased CV risk from prenatal age to adulthood, including the role of perinatal factors, diet, nutrigenomics, and nutri-epigenetics, hyperuricemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and cardiorespiratory fitness. The importance of 'tracking' of these risk factors on adult CV health is highlighted and the economic impact of childhood obesity as well as preventive strategies are discussed

Psychosocial and environmental risk factors of obesity and hypertension in children and adolescents—a literature overview

Childhood obesity has become a worldwide epidemic in the 21st century. Its treatment is challenging and often ineffective, among others due to complex, often not obvious causes. Awareness of the existence and meaning of psychosocial and environmental risk factors seems to be an essential element in the prevention and treatment of obesity and its complications, especially arterial hypertension. In this review, we will discuss the role of that risk factors linking obesity and increased cardiovascular disorders including the role of nutritional factors (including the role of unhealthy diet, inadequate hydration), unhealthy behaviors (e.g. smoking, alcohol and drugs, sedentary behavior, low physical activity, disrupted circadian rhythms, sleep disorders, screen exposure), unfavorable social factors (such as dysfunctional family, bullying, chronic stress, mood disorders, depression, urbanization, noise, and environmental pollution), and finally differences in cardiovascular risk in girls and boys

Joint statement for assessing and managing high blood pressure in children and adolescents: Chapter 1. How to correctly measure blood pressure in children and adolescents

The joint statement is a synergistic action between HyperChildNET and the European Academy of Pediatrics about the diagnosis and management of hypertension in youth, based on the European Society of Hypertension Guidelines published in 2016 with the aim to improve its implementation. The first and most important requirement for the diagnosis and management of hypertension is an accurate measurement of office blood pressure that is currently recommended for screening, diagnosis, and management of high blood pressure in children and adolescents. Blood pressure levels should be screened in all children starting from the age of 3 years. In those children with risk factors for high blood pressure, it should be measured at each medical visit and may start before the age of 3 years. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is increasingly recognized as an important source of information as it can detect alterations in circadian and short-term blood pressure variations and identify specific phenotypes such as nocturnal hypertension or non-dipping pattern, morning blood pressure surge, white coat and masked hypertension with prognostic significance. At present, home BP measurements are generally regarded as useful and complementary to office and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure for the evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of antihypertensive treatment and furthermore remains more accessible in primary care than 24-h ambulatory blood pressure. A grading system of the clinical evidence is included

ARFI shear-wave elastography with simulation of acute urinary tract obstruction in an ex vivo porcine kidney model

PURPOSE:We aimed to evaluate if acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) shear-wave elastography (SWE) can detect change of parenchymal stiffness in an ex vivo porcine kidney model of acute urinary tract obstruction.METHODS:A total of 20 heparinized pig kidneys were investigated at 10 intrapelvic hydrostatic pressure steps (0–90 mmHg). SWE (ARFI; Virtual TouchTM IQ, Siemens) measurements were taken at three different measuring regions and in two measuring sequences using a linear ultrasonography probe (9L4, Siemens). Median values of 10 shear-wave speed (SWS) measurements were calculated for each pressure step. Logarithmic transformed median SWS values were analyzed in a linear mixed model.RESULTS:SWS increased significantly with increasing intrapelvic pressure. Median SWS for all kidneys in both measuring sequences and all measuring regions was 1.47 m/s (interquartile range [IQR], 0.38 m/s) at 0 mmHg, 1.94 m/s (IQR, 0.42 m/s) at 30 mmHg, 2.07 m/s (IQR, 0.43 m/s) at 60 mmHg, 2.24 m/s (IQR, 0.49 m/s) at 90 mmHg. The correlation between pelvic pressure increase and median SWS values for the central parenchyma was significantly higher compared with the peripheral parenchyma.CONCLUSION:Acutely increased renal pelvic pressure correlates with increasing SWS values in ARFI elastography in an ex vivo porcine kidney model