The influence of stressor on blood pressure in school children

Background Physical and psychological stress such as child anxiety, can increase blood pressure. Objective To evaluate the role of vein puncture as a stressor causing alteration of blood pressure in school children. Methods This study was a descriptive, pre and post test study as a part of a screening study on primary school children at Cibubur subdistrict in East Jakarta. Blood pressure was measured before and after a vein puncture procedure in 449 children. Nine children were excluded because of incomplete data. Results The increase of systolic blood pressure was found in 121 (27.5%) subjects, decrease in 42 (9.5%), and no change in 227 (63%). Diastolic blood pressure increased in 123 (28.0%) subjects, decreased in 38 (8.6%), and did not change in 279 (63.4%). The increase of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure was found in 61 (13.8%), increased systolic with no change of diastolic in 58 (13.2%), and increased systolic with decreased diastolic in 2 (0.5%) children. Decreased systolic with increased diastolic was found in 2 (0.5%) subjects, decreased systolic with no change of diastolic in 26 (5.9%), and decrease of both systolic and diastolic in 14 (3.2%) children. No changes in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were found in 195 (44.3%); no change in systolic with decreased diastolic blood pressure was found in 22 (5.0%) children. Conclusion In most of the school children, vein puncture procedure did not cause alteration on blood pressure.