24-H AMBULATORY BLOOD-PRESSURE MONITORING IN HEALTHY-YOUNG ADULT ANGLE, HISPANIC, AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN SUBJECTS

The purpose of this study was to compare office and 24-h ambulatory bl ood pressure (ABP) values for adolescent and young adult males and fem ales of Angle, Hispanic, and African-American descent. One hundred and eighteen healthy subjects (62 females, 56 males) participated, with a n ethnic distribution of 50 Angle, 32 Hispanic, and 36 African-America n subjects. All subjects came to the clinic for height, weight, sittin g blood pressure (BP), and to begin 24-h ABP monitoring using the Spac eLabs model 90207 automatic noninvasive monitor. The monitor recorded readings every 0.5 h from 06:00 to 22:00 and every hour at night from 22:00 to 06:00. Office systolic and diastolic BP values were higher fo r all males compared to all females. Mean 24-h, nighttime, and daytime systolic ABP values were also significantly higher for males compared to females. The 24-h mean and daytime systolic ABP values were signif icantly different by ethnic groups. The African-American subjects alwa ys had the highest readings. Mean 24-h diastolic ABP was also signific antly different by ethnic groups, with the African-American subjects b eing higher than the Angles or the Hispanics. Diastolic ABP (24-h mean , daytime, and nighttime) values (for all subjects combined) increased gradually and varied significantly with age. This study provides prel iminary normative data about ABP in an understudied population (ie, te enagers and young adults of different ethnic backgrounds). It also sho ws that higher blood pressures are present among males and among subje cts of African-American descent in the teenage and young adult populat ion. (C) 1997 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd.