Background

Home blood pressure (HBP) monitoring is being used in children. However, there is no information on the relationship between HBP and office measurements (office BP (OBP)) in this population.

Methods

This school-based study investigated the effect of age on the difference between HBP and OBP in 765 healthy subjects aged 6–18 years (mean age 12 3 (SD years). HBP (3 days, 12 readings) and OBP (2 visits, 6 readings) were measured using electronic devices validated in children (Omron 705IT).

Results

Average OBP was slightly lower than HBP by 0.6 7.0 mm Hg (95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.1, 1.1, P = 0.01) systolic and 1 6 mm Hg (95% CI 0.7, 1.6, P < 0.0001) diastolic, whereas pulse rate was higher in the office by 7 10 beats/min (95% CI 6.2, 7.6, P < 0.0001). Age was significantly correlated with the OBP–HBP difference (r = 0.13/0.24 for systolic/diastolic, P < 0.001) and inversely correlated with the office–home difference in pulse rate (r = - 0.31, P < 0.001). In the younger children (6–12 years), both systolic and diastolic HBP were higher than OBP whereas pulse rate was higher in the office. In older children and adolescents, the BP difference was eliminated whereas the pulse rate difference was reduced but remained significant. These changes with age were similar in boys and girls.

Conclusions

In the pediatric population OBP appears to be lower than HBP. This difference is reduced with increasing age and eliminated after the age of 12 years. These data should be taken into account in the assessment of HBP in children and adolescents.

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