Effects of Sleep Patterns and Obesity on Increases in Blood Pressure in a 5-Year Period: Report from the Tucson Children's Assessment of Sleep Apnea Study

Abstract

Objectives To determine associations between body mass index (BMI) and sleep on blood pressure over a 5-year period from childhood to adolescence. Study design A longitudinal, community-based sample of 334 children recruited at ages 6 through 11 years. Each participant underwent in-home polysomnography initially and then 5 years later. Individual systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures were calculated at both time points during wake periods and classified as hypertensive if SBP or DBP was ≥ 95th standardized percentiles for height and weight. Results Hypertension was present in 3.6% of the sample at time one and increased to 4.2% 5- years later. Obesity prevalence increased from 15.0% to 19.5%. Normal changes in sleep architecture were observed in the sample. Random effects modeling which controlled for age, sex and ethnicity indicated that change in obesity status and decrease in total sleep time were associated with increases in SBP. Change in obesity status was also associated with increases in DBP over the 5-year period. A trend for sleep-disordered breathing to increase SBP was noted. Conclusions Increases in SBP and DBP were associated with increasing BMI and decreased total sleep time over a 5-year period from childhood to adolescence.