Stability of Systolic Blood Pressure Reactivity to Exercise in Young Children

Blood pressure reactivity to stress in childhood has predicted development of hypertension 45 years later, so it is important to understand the characteristics of blood pressure reactivity in childhood. The present study assessed the 1-week and 6-month stability of systolic blood pressure reactivity to a 40-meter run stressor in preschool children. Sixty-three low-income children (mean age, 3.9 years) were assessed on four different days over a 6-month period. One-week stability (r = 0.39 to 0.50) and 6-month stability (r = 0.56) of reactive systolic blood pressure levels were highly significant. Reactive systolic blood pressure level was more stable than resting systolic or diastolic blood pressure in this sample. Sex, body mass index, family cardiovascular disease history, and child Type A behavior all were unrelated to systolic blood pressure reactivity. Systolic blood pressure reactivity to exercise appears to be an enduring characteristic that emerges in early childhood.