Serum copeptin as a biomarker of hypertension in children with obesity

Abstract

Background Hypertension (HT) in obesity has been reported frequently in children in recent years. The role of copeptin and uric acid here are not well known. We aimed to investigate the relationship between HT and serum copeptin and uric acid levels in children with obesity. Methods We included 80 children with obesity who were admitted to our hospital between April 2018 and September 2018. The patients were separated into two groups: hypertensive and non‐hypertensive. Serum copeptin levels were measured using the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Results Copeptin levels were significantly higher in patients with HT than in those without (p = 0.0001). In addition, serum uric acid levels in patients with HT were significantly higher, while the serum potassium levels were significantly lower (p = 0.01) than in those without HT (p = 0.001). In correlation analyses, a positive correlation was detected between blood sodium and copeptin levels (p = 0.037). Conclusions Hypertensive children with obesity had higher serum copeptin and uric acid and lower blood potassium levels. Moreover, copeptin levels were positively correlated with blood sodium levels. Thus, in addition to copeptin, serum uric acid, potassium, and sodium levels may be important in the diagnosis and follow‐up of children with HT.