Date Available
12-13-2024
Year of Publication
2024
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Systems (MSNFS)
College
Agriculture, Food and Environment
Department/School/Program
Dietetics and Human Nutrition
Advisor
Julie Plasencia Ph.D., RD
Abstract
Pediatric hypertension, linked to long-term cardiovascular risks, shows increasing prevalence and varying patterns between boys and girls. This study explores sex-based differences in hypertension among 251 children aged 6-18 from Kentucky Children’s Hospital. Using 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and assessing plasma renin, aldosterone, and cortisol, we examined blood pressure severity by sex. Girls showed a higher incidence of severe hypertension and elevated cortisol levels, whereas boys had higher mean systolic blood pressure. Aldosterone was associated with night systolic blood pressure in girls, while night diastolic blood pressure was linked to aldosterone in both sexes and renin in girls. Tests of between-subject effects revealed that cortisol, BMI, and age influenced blood pressure differently across sexes. These results suggest unique physiological mechanisms in boys and girls, emphasizing the need for sex-specific diagnostic criteria and interventions. Tailored approaches to pediatric hypertension may improve early detection and mitigate adult cardiovascular risks.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2024.495
Recommended Citation
Dyar, Allyson, "SEX DIFFERENCES IN PEDIATRIC HYPERTENSION: OBESITY, STRESS, AND THE RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM" (2024). Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems. 104.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/foodsci_etds/104
