To characterize age- and sex-specific percentile values for blood pressure response to exercise in pediatric patients with structurally normal hearts and to compare characteristics such as demographic data and exercise performance among those with normal, elevated, and hypertensive SBP responses.
Key Findings:
Significant differences in height and weight between males and females were observed, indicating the need for tailored clinical assessments.
Peak exercise SBP increases with age for both sexes, with males showing higher SBP in adolescence, suggesting a potential need for gender-specific guidelines.
Age- and sex-specific percentiles for maximal SBP and DBP responses were established, providing a reference for clinicians.
Interpretation:
The study provides essential reference values for blood pressure responses during exercise in pediatric patients, highlighting the need for age- and sex-specific standards.
Limitations:
Retrospective design may limit the ability to establish causation, which could affect the interpretation of the relationship between BP responses and future cardiovascular risk.
Data limited to patients with normal cardiac evaluations, potentially excluding those at risk, which may impact the generalizability of the findings.
Conclusion:
Establishing standardized blood pressure response values during exercise in pediatric patients is crucial for identifying those at risk for future cardiovascular issues, emphasizing the need for updated clinical guidelines.
