Blood pressure changes during adolescence and subsequent adult blood pressure level.

Serial data were analyzed for blood pressure recorded between the ages of 9 to 18 years for 278 children and for a subset of this group whose blood pressure was measured at the age of 30 +/- 5.0 years (n = 93). Blood pressures were measured by auscultation over the antecubital fossa with the participant seated. Systolic blood pressure was recorded when the first sound was heard, and diastolic blood pressure was recorded when all sounds disappeared (fifth phase). A linear regression model was fitted to the data for each individual, and adjustments were made for regression toward the mean using maximum likelihood procedures. There were no significant correlations between the estimated initial values of blood pressure and the rate of change from 9 to 18 years of age. The associations between the levels of blood pressure at 9 years of age and at 30 years of age were significant for systolic blood pressure only in male subjects and were not significant for diastolic blood pressure in either sex. The correlations between the rate of blood pressure change from 9 to 18 years of age and blood pressure levels at 30 years of age were nonsignificant. When the initial values and the rate of change in blood pressure from 9 to 18 years of age were taken into account simultaneously, they accounted for approximately 20% of the variation in systolic blood pressure levels at 30 years of age. This finding indicates that children with higher blood pressure levels at about 9 years of age and with rapid increases in blood pressure during pubescence may have an increased risk of becoming hypertensive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)