Müller, Jan; Meyer, Joanna; Elmenhorst, Julia;
Oberhoffer, Renate.

The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, August 2016,
Vol. 18 Issue: Number 8 p762-765, 4p;

Abstract: Cardiopulmonary fitness
benefits cardiovascular health. Various studies have shown a strong
negative correlation between exercise capacity and arterial stiffness
in adults. However, evidence for this connection in children and
adolescents is scarce. About 320 healthy children and adolescents (252
male, 14.0±2.1 years) were evaluated with regard to their demographic,
anthropometric and hemodynamic parameters, and their peak oxygen
uptake. Peripheral and central systolic blood pressures were measured
with patients in a supine position using an oscillometric device. Peak
oxygen uptake was assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. In
multivariate regression, only peripheral systolic blood pressure
(β=0.653, P<.001) and body weight (β=0.284, P<.001) emerged as
independent determinants for central systolic blood pressure. Body
weight therefore determines central systolic blood pressure in children
and adolescents rather than measures of cardiorespiratory fitness. The
prevention of overweight in childhood is necessary to reduce stiffening
of the arteries and delay the onset of cardiovascular disease.