Comparative study of cold pressor response in children of hypertensives and normotensives

Abstract

Background: Hypertension develops early in life as a result of encounters between stressful environmental factors and genetic predisposition. Objective: Cold pressor response in children of hypertensives is compared with those of normotensive parents. Method: The blood pressure response to cold pressor test was studied in two groups of 100 each, as children of normotensives (Group I) and children of hypertensives (Group II) in the age group of 17-22 years. After noting resting blood pressure, the subjects were asked to immerse their left hand in cold water (3-5°C) for 1 minute and then the systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures are measured. Result: It was observed that there was no difference in resting SBP and DBP in these two groups. After cold pressor test, significant higher values of SBP and DBP after immersion and change in SBP and DBP were observed in Group II as compared to Group I (p= 0.0001). Also a significant number of hyperreactors (rise of >22mmHg SBP and >18mmHg DBP) are seen in Group II. This suggests sympathetic overactivity. Conclusion: The latent period of vascular hyperreactivity can be detected earlier by applying cold pressor test in high risk individuals so as to implement early preventive measures to halt the progression to sustained hypertension developing at a future date.

Keywords

• Blood pressure
• children
• cold pressor test
• hypertension