Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine the serum level of free fatty acid (FFA) in children with primary hypertension and its value in the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of primary hypertension in children. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 34 children with primary hypertension who were treated for the first time in Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January to June, 2021, were enrolled as the hypertension group, and 32 children with normal blood pressure who underwent physical examination during the same period were enrolled as the control group. The two groups were compared in terms of the levels of fasting serum FFA, fasting serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C). The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influence of FFA on the development of primary hypertension. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the hypertension group had significantly higher body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure (P<0.05), as well as significantly higher serum levels of FFA, TG, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C and a significantly lower serum level of HDL-C (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the hypertension group had significantly higher rates of elevated serum FFA (>0.45 mmol/L for girls and >0.60 mmol/L for boys) (P<0.05) and abnormal blood lipid levels (abnormality in at least one index among serum TG, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and non-HDL-C) (P<0.05). A multivariate logistic regression equation was established based on age, sex, BMI, elevated serum FFA, and abnormal blood lipid levels, and the results showed that elevated serum FFA was an independent risk factor for primary hypertension in children (OR=17.560, 95%CI: 1.964-157.003, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant increase in serum FFA level in children with primary hypertension, and the increase in serum FFA can increase the risk of primary hypertension in children.