On Friday, October 19, Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer held a keynote lecture at the "Artery 18" conference in Guimares, Portugal. The dean of the Department of Sport and Health Sciences, as a member of the panel on "Childhood determinants of arterial dysfunction", spoke about "central and peripheral blood pressure".
"The conference is the largest scientific event European-wide on this topic. In particular, the interdisciplinarity fascinated me. The participants are, for example, physicians, bioengineers or sport scientists. Especially the sport scientists enliven the field of research appreciably with their contributions in the field of 'movement and vascular health'," explains Prof. Oberhoffer.
Peripheral and central blood pressure as a measured variable for the health of children
Blood pressure is an important measurement parameter for the health of children. Two measuring procedures exist: The peripheral blood pressure is measured using a cuff on the upper arm and shows with which pressure the blood is pumped by the heart through the arteries. The central blood pressure, on the other hand, is determined using a device which calculates the flow from the ventricle and also shows the speed of the pulse wave. "The central blood pressure is still relatively new as a measured variable and has thus far, unfortunately, been hardly established. Particularly this value is important, because it documents the efficiency of the heart and how well the brain is supplied with blood," explains Oberhoffer. In different studies, it has been proven that children with a central blood pressure that is too high demonstrate poorer cognitive performance. In addition, these children during their further life more frequently suffer from such cardiovascular diseases as, for instance; apoplexy, according to Oberhoffer.
A fundamental problem consists of the fact that in Germany to date the blood pressure of children is measured too infrequently. At least five percent of these younger individuals suffer from hypertension against which measures would have to be taken.
Chair of Preventive Pediatrics: Symposium with a US guest & conference of the DeGAG
The Chair of Preventive Pediatrics of Full Prof. Oberhoffer works in research and education as well as in the "Sport-Medical Outpatient Clinic for Children and Adolescents" striving to establish the examination as well as both measuring procedures. This summer, Prof. Dr. Elaine Urbina was invited as a guest for a symposium. The renowned US researcher, on the panel in Guimares together with Oberhoffer, also spoke on the blood pressure of children.
In the coming year the Chair of Preventive Pediatrics will organize the congress of the Society for Arterial Vascular Rigidity (DeGAG) in Munich.
To the Homepage of the Chair of Preventive Pediatrics
To the Homepage of the Sport-Medical Outpatient Clinic for Children and Adolescents
To the Homepage of the Artery Conference
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer
Chair of Preventive Pediatrics
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 Munich
Telephone: 089 289 24571
Email: preventive-pediatrics(at)tum.de
Text: Dr. Fabian Kautz
Photo: TUM/Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer