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Brief Report: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Music to Obtain More Accurate Blood Pressure Readings in Children with Williams Syndrome

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Abstract

This study examined if listening to music will improve the accuracy of blood pressure (BP) readings in children with Williams syndrome (WS). Fifty-two participants (7–12 years) were randomly assigned to a music or non-music group. BPs were obtained at two time points. There was a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic BP from Time 1 to Time 2 for everyone. Participants from the music group had lower systolic BP readings at Time 2 than participants in the non-music group (Cohen's d = 0.33). Systolic BP readings were approximately 3.8 mmHg lower in the music group. Music may be beneficial in obtaining more accurate systolic BP readings in children with WS.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the families of individuals with Williams syndrome who participated in this research study, and the Williams Syndrome Association. Without their support, this study would not have been possible. This project was supported by The Clinical and Translational Intramural Funding Program through the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (Columbus, Ohio). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA

    Jennifer R. Walton

  2. Department of Behavioral Health, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA

    Marilee A. Martens

  3. Biostatics Research Core, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA

    Melissa Moore-Clingenpeel

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  1. Jennifer R. Walton
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  2. Marilee A. Martens
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  3. Melissa Moore-Clingenpeel
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Contributions

JW and MM developed the concept and designed the study from which this data was taken. JW collected the data, MM and MM-C analyzed the data. JW and MM wrote sections of the paper, and MM-C contributed to the statistical analysis and results for this paper. All authors discussed the results and implications and edited the manuscript at all stages.

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Correspondence to Jennifer R. Walton.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of our IRB and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments.

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Walton, J.R., Martens, M.A. & Moore-Clingenpeel, M. Brief Report: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Music to Obtain More Accurate Blood Pressure Readings in Children with Williams Syndrome. J Autism Dev Disord 52, 871–876 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-04970-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-04970-5

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