AEROBIC FITNESS AND AMBULATORY BLOOD PRESSURE IN ADOLESCENTS BORN WITH VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT

AEROBIC FITNESS AND AMBULATORY BLOOD PRESSURE IN ADOLESCENTS BORN PREMATURELY WITH VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT Thesis under the direction of Patricia A. Nixon, PhD., Associate Professor of Health and Exercise Science and Pediatrics Prematurity, very low birth weight (VLBW), and lower aerobic fitness are associated with increased risk for developing hypertension. Adolescents born pre-term with VLBW have been shown to have higher resting and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) than their term born peers. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of aerobic fitness and ambulatory blood pressure in adolescents born prematurely with VLBW. Forty 14 year-old adolescents (11 males, 18 AA) performed a progressive maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer to determine aerobic fitness from peak oxygen uptake (VO2 pk). On a separate day, each wore a Spacelabs 90207 ambulatory blood pressure monitor for 24 hours to determine average SBP (SBP24) and DBP (DBP24) for the 24-hour period, as well as, average SBP and DBP for wake and sleep periods. The % change from wake to sleep (nighttime dipping) was also examined. Average SBP and DBP percentiles were 37 + 23 and 36 + 21 mmHg, respectively. Although only one subject had elevated resting BP (>95th %ile), 25% had elevated SBP load and 39% had elevated DBP load, defined as having >25% of the 24-hour readings above the 95th %ile. VO2, % predicted was significantly inversely correlated with resting SBP (r=-0.332) and showed a trend towards a significant positive correlation with DBP while awake(r=0.280). SBP and DBP nocturnal dipping were not significantly correlated with aerobic fitness. Results indicated that aerobic fitness was associated with lower BP at rest, DBP while awake, and SBP load while asleep, and may help to reduce risk for developing hypertension in this predisposed population.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Sasser, Elizabeth

• VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/14793

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/14793