Background: For adolescents, abnormal dipping patterns in blood pressure BP are associated with early-onset organ damage and a higher risk of cardiovascular disorders in adulthood. Obesity is one of the most common reasons for abnormal BP dipping in young people. However, it is unknown whether the severity of obesity is associated with BP dipping status and whether this association is sex-dependent. Methods: participants between 12 and 17 years old with overweight or obesity underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring ABPM between April and January in Beijing and Baoding.
The interaction effect between sex and obesity degree was also analyzed. Results: boys and girls were included, of whom were overweight, were obese, and were severely obese.
Girls with severe obesity had a higher prevalence of non-dipping, but boys showed no significant differences in BP dipping status between obesity categories. In addition, as obesity severity went up, a more evident increase in night-time SBP was observed in girls than in boys. Conclusions: Severely obese is associated with a higher prevalence of non-BP dipping patterns in girls than in boys, which suggests that the relationship between the severity of obesity and BP dipping status might be sex-specific.
Keywords: Adolescents; Ambulatory blood pressure monitor; Dipping patterns; Obesity severity; Sex difference. Abstract Background: For adolescents, abnormal dipping patterns in blood pressure BP are associated with early-onset organ damage and a higher risk of cardiovascular disorders in adulthood.
