Victoria Socha

DocwireNews

With the increase in the prevalence of primary pediatric hypertension comes an emphasis on active research to identify modifiable risk factors for the condition. Anxiety, a common problem in childhood, may be associated with activation of the sympathetic system, plasma renin, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, resulting in increased peripheral vascular resistance and hypertension.Anxiety has been shown to be associated with elevated blood pressure in adults; however, according to Yaritzy Michelle Astudillo, MD, and colleagues at New York Medical College, Valhalla, there are few data available on the relationship between anxiety and increased blood pressure in children.The researchers recently conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the association between anxiety and hypertension in adolescents. Results were reported during a poster session at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2022 in a poster titled Association Between Anxiety and Hypertension in Adolescent Patients: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study.Patients 12 to 18 years of age referred to the center&rsquo;s pediatric nephrology clinic were eligible to participate in the study. Hypertension was defined as either systolic or diastolic blood pressure above the 95th percentile for age, height, and sex. The validated Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) questionnaire was used to evaluate for anxiety. The questionnaire was completed independently by the child (SCARED-C) and by the parent (SCARED-P). A score of &ge;9 was defined as a positive screen for anxiety.Chi-square tests were used to compare proportions, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the difference in blood pressure between groups.A total of 200 adolescents were included in the study. Of those, 130 were not on any blood pressure medication. In that subgroup, mean age was 15.18 years, 50% were male, 45% (n=58) had positive SCARED-C scores, and 29% (n=37) had positive SCARED-P scores.Of the group with positive SCARED-P scores, 43% (n=16) had diastolic hypertension compared with 19% (n=18) of those with negative SCARED-P scores (P=.005). Diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher in adolescents with SCARED-P positive scores and in those with SCARED-C positive scores compared with SCARED-P negative and SCARED-C negative participants.In summary, the researchers said, &ldquo;In this cohort of adolescents, those who were anxious by parental reporting were more likely to have diastolic hypertension. For adolescents not treated with antihypertensive medications, diastolic blood pressure but not systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the anxious cohort both by self and parental reporting. The impact of anxiety on the pathogenesis of hypertension in children warrants further study.&rdquo;Source: Astudillo YM, Krishnan S, Pereira TE, Solomon S, Samsonov DV. Association between anxiety and hypertension in adolescent patients: a single-center cross-sectional study. FR-PO436. Abstract of a poster presented at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2022; November 4, 2022; Orlando, Florida.

Bradley Marder, MD

Joel M. Topf, MD, FACP

Gout Studies: Transplant Waitlisting and Bone Erosion

NKF Spring Clinical Meetings 2025

Jayme Locke, MD, MPH

The Promise of Xenotransplantation

Leah Lawrence

Real-World Data Backs Invasive DFS as Surrogate Endpoint for OS in EBC

HR Breast Cancer

Latest News

Anxiety Associated With Hypertension in Adolescents

ASN Kidney Week 2022

With the increase in the prevalence of primary pediatric hypertension comes an emphasis on active research to identify modifiable risk factors for the condition. Anxiety, a ...

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertising

Contact Us

eNewsletters

Contribute

Career Center

MashupMD

Blood Cancers Today

Cancer Nursing Today

GU Oncology Now

Urban Health Today

Bile Duct Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Gastric Cancer

GEP-NETs

GIST

Liver Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

GI Oncology Now

Anemia

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Essential Thrombocythemia

Hemophilia

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelofibrosis

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Polycythemia Vera

Pulmonary Embolism

Sickle Cell Disease

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombophilia

Thrombosis

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Venous Thromboembolism

von Willebrand Disease

Heme Today

Acute Kidney Injury

ADPKD

Anemia and Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease

COVID-19 and Kidney Disease

Diabetes and Hypertension

End-Stage Renal Disease

Gout

Hyperkalemia

IgAN

Kidney Transplantation

Metabolic Acidosis

Nephrology Times

HER2 Breast Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Genetics & Breast Cancer

Breast Cancers Today

Atherosclerotic Disease

Atrial Fibrillation

Heart Failure

Hypertension

Interventional Cardiology

Lipid Management

Practice Tips With Dr. Lichaa

Preventive Cardiology

Stroke

Cardiology

Breast Cancer

Gynecologic Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer

Skin Cancer

Oncology

Sleep

Urology

Diabetes

Ophthalmology

— Demodex Blepharitis

Neurology

Rheumatology

Gastroenterology

Pulmonology

Infectious Diseases

— HIV

Health and Wellness

Lupus

Future of Medicine

Orthopedics

Pharmacology

Career News

More

Conferences

CardioNerds

The Sleep Source With Dr. Morse

Rheumatology Rounds With Dr. Maheswaranathan

Partners

Expert Interviews

Subscribe