This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Matthews, K. A. Articles by Allen, M. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Matthews, K. A. Articles by Allen, M. T. Related Collections Pediatrics Stress and Coping Blood Pressure

Cardiovascular Reactivity to Stress Predicts Future Blood Pressure in Adolescence

From the Departments of Psychiatry (K.A.M., K.S.) and Psychology (S.S.B.), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the Department of Education and Psychology (M.T.A.), University of Southern Mississippi, Long Beach, Mississippi

Address reprint requests to: Karen A. Matthews, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, 3811 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Email: matthewska{at}msx.upmc.edu

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the prospective relationship between cardiovascular reactivity to psychological stress and increases in resting blood pressure across a 3-year period among a multiethnic pediatric sample (N = 149).

METHODS: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure; EKG heart rate, pre-ejection period, and mean successive difference of R to R intervals; and impedance-derived measures of cardiac output, stroke volume, and total peripheral resistance were collected during performance of four tasks that elicited different hemodynamic response patterns. Changes from baseline to each task were standardized and averaged to form eight composite scores. Analyses adjusted for time 1 baseline blood pressure and age, body mass index at baseline and change to follow-up, and duration of follow-up.

RESULTS: Rises in SBP over the follow-up period were independently predicted by SBP (ß = 0.161, p = .009), DBP (ß = 0.132, p = .02), and CO (ß = 0.144, p = .02) composite measures of reactivity. Rises in DBP over the follow-up period were predicted by DBP (ß = 0.292, p = .003, respectively), and MSD (ß = -0.176, p < .03) composite measures of reactivity. TPR reactivity was not related prospectively to blood pressure rises.

CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the pediatric literature documenting an association between cardiovascular reactivity to stress and subsequent risk for hypertension. It is the first to show that impedance-derived measures of myocardial function during stress are related to future blood pressure levels.

Key Words: adolescence, • cardiovascular reactivity, • stress, • prospective, • blood pressure, • African American.

Abbreviations: SBP = systolic blood pressure;; DBP = diastolic blood pressure;; BMI = body mass index;; CO = cardiac output;; COP = Cardiac Output Program;; ECG = electrocardiogram;; SV = stroke volume;; IBI = interbeat interval;; MSD = mean successive difference;; PEP = pre-ejection period;; HR = heart rate;; TPR = total peripheral resistance.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. H. Nassau, K. Tien, and G. K. Fritz Review of the Literature: Integrating Psychoneuroimmunology into Pediatric Chronic Illness Interventions J. Pediatr. Psychol., March 1, 2008; 33(2): 195 - 207. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Chen Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Physiological Health in Adolescents: an Experimental Manipulation of Psychosocial Factors Psychosom Med, May 1, 2007; 69(4): 348 - 355. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Jakulj, K. Zernicke, S. L. Bacon, L. E. van Wielingen, B. L. Key, S. G. West, and T. S. Campbell A High-Fat Meal Increases Cardiovascular Reactivity to Psychological Stress in Healthy Young Adults J. Nutr., April 1, 2007; 137(4): 935 - 939. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Ge, H. Zhu, Y. Huang, F. A. Treiber, G. A. Harshfield, H. Snieder, and Y. Dong Multilocus Analyses of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Gene Variants on Blood Pressure at Rest and During Behavioral Stress in Young Normotensive Subjects Hypertension, January 1, 2007; 49(1): 107 - 112. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Ritz and B. Dahme Implementation and Interpretation of Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia Measures in Psychosomatic Medicine: Practice Against Better Evidence? Psychosom Med, July 1, 2006; 68(4): 617 - 627. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Clark, R. A. Benkert, and J. M. Flack Violence Exposure and Optimism Predict Task-Induced Changes in Blood Pressure and Pulse Rate in a Normotensive Sample of Inner-City Black Youth Psychosom Med, January 1, 2006; 68(1): 73 - 79. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]