PREDICTORS OF AMBULATORY BLOOD-PRESSURE - IDENTIFICATION OF HIGH-RISKADOLESCENTS

Within a life span perspective on prevention, adolescence was conceptu alized as a pivotal transition in the evolution of risk for hypertensi on and other cardiovascular morbidity. Resting blood pressure (BP), BP reactivity, and 24-hour ambulatory BP were measured in a multiethnic sample of 41 male and female adolescents aged 15 to 16 years old. Resu lts were consistent with the hypothesis that BP levels during reactivi ty testing would be better predictors of ambulatory BP than levels of BP measured at rest using a standard protocol. Ethnic group difference s in ambulatory BP were statistically significant. The findings warran t further study and may provide a means for early identification of ad olescents at risk for developing high BP.