Analysis of the autonomic system of schoolchildren with and without a family history of systemic arterial hypertension

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the autonomic system through HRV in schoolchildren with and without a positive family history of systemic arterial hypertension. METHODS: A total of 243 schoolchildren of both sexes from the 6th and 7th grades of public and private schools in the city of Altamira-Pará participated in the study. Of these, 120 had hypertensive parents (HBP) and 123 had normotensive parents (PN). Cardiac autonomic modulation was assessed using the recording of the RR interval (ms) for a period of 7 minutes. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the percentage values ​​of the low frequency band (%BF) in the HBP group when compared to the PN group, and in the percentage values ​​of high frequency (%HF) in the PN group compared to the HBP group. CONCLUSION: It was possible to demonstrate that the HBP group presented greater sympathetic modulation, and may be more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases than the children of normotensive parents, who presented greater parasympathetic modulation and consequently better HRV.