1-Year stability and prediction of cardiovascular functioning at rest and during laboratory stressors in youth with family histories of essential hypertension

Blood pressure (BP), heart rate, cardiac index, and total peripheral resistance index were measured at rest and in response to postural change, forehead cold stimulation, and a video game challenge in a sample of 128 White and 155 African-American normotensive youth with family histories of essential hypertension (EH). These measurements were readministered 1 year later (12.5 ± 3.2 months). Moderate temporal stability was observed for all resting and absolute stress responses. Reliability estimates for reactivity change scores were lower, although some were within acceptable ranges. African-American youth exhibited greater BP and peripheral resistance index reactivity to forehead cold on both evaluations. After controlling for various anthropometric and demographic parameters and the pertinent previous year’s resting cardiovascular (CV) parameter, mean video game systolic blood pressure (SBP) responses were predictive of resting SBP whereas absolute forehead cold and video game diastolic responses predicted resting diastolic blood pressure (DBF) 1 year later. Mean video game DBP responses were also predictive of resting peripheral resistance index after controlling for significant demographic and anthropometric measures. CV reactivity is discussed with regard to possible value in prediction of changes in resting BP and cardiac structure prior to establishment of EH.