Relationship between platelet distribution width and non-dipping pattern in children with essential hypertension

BACKGROUND: Hypertension has shown a trend of prevalence at younger ages, and the non-dipping pattern is associated with target organ damage in hypertension. However, few studies have yet investigated the clinical characteristics and risk factors of non-dipper status in essential hypertension children. This study aimed to explore the clinical characteristics and possible indicators associated with non-dipper status in children with essential hypertension. METHODS: A total of 125 children (99 boys, 26 girls) with untreated essential hypertension were retrospectively included in this study. Non-dipping was defined as a nocturnal drop in systolic or diastolic BP (SBP, DBP) < 10%. Clinical data, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), laboratory and echocardiography parameters were recorded from the hospital database. RESULTS: Non-dipping pattern was found in 74 (59.2%) children and the dipping pattern in 51(40.8%) children, and the nocturnal SBP drop was 8.43 ± 0.71 (%), and the DBP drop was 14.44 ± 0.86 (%). The proportion of children with left ventricular hypertrophy was higher in the non-dipping group than in the dipping group. The platelet distribution width, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and triglycerides (TG) levels were higher in the non-dipping group compared with the dipping group. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, PDW, TG and hs-CRP were found to be associated with the non-dipping pattern. CONCLUSION: Non-dipping pattern in children hypertension is common, and the proportion of left ventricular hypertrophy is higher in non-dipping hypertension children. Moreover, higher PDW, hs-CRP and TG levels are the risk factors for non-dipping status in essential hypertension children.