Predictors of left ventricular mass and resting blood pressure in children: the Muscatine Study.

The objective of this study was to determine predictors of left ventricular mass (LVM) and resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) in preteenage children. Subjects consisted of 124 children (7.9-12 yr) from Muscatine, Iowa. Methods consisted of echocardiographic examinations, random-zero SBP, hormone determination of serum androgens, physician's examination for Tanner stage, anthropometry, maximal bicycle ergometry, hand grip dynamometry, and a physical activity survey. Least square's regression analysis quantified the percentage of explained variability in LVM and resting SBP attributable to the predictor variables. All models were adjusted for body composition. In boys, 72% of the variability in LVM was explained by fat-free body mass (FFM), sum of skinfolds, and peak SBP. In girls, FFM and peak SBP explained 69% of the variability in LVM. Peak SBP was also a significant predictor of resting SBP in boys and girls. Study results indicated that physical fitness and physical activity are not significant predictors of LVM nor resting SBP; however, after adjusting for body composition, peak SBP was an independent predictor of LVM and resting SBP. This result suggests that peak SBP may aid in the prediction of subsequent hypertension and its complications such as left ventricular hypertrophy.