Essential hypertension in the child and adolescent. a preliminary study at an interval of more than one year
Aullen, J.P.; Clauss, F.
La Nouvelle Presse Medicale 8(35): 2807-2810
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-1518 PMID: 503809 Document Number: 145706
One to two years after an initial study establishing normal values for blood pressure in a population of 819 children and adolescents, the outcome in 74 individuals, 39 of whom were considered to be hypertensive and the influence of the observer and methods on the collection of cases of hypertension are evaluated. 58% of the hypertensive individuals remained hypertensive. Overweight appeared to be the essential factor in determining the persistence of hypertension. 74 % of the overweight hypertensive subjects remained hypertensive as against a figure of 42 % of subjects with a normal weight prevent arterial hypertension could be considered by preventing excess weight. The influence of the observer is slight if methods and equipment are identical. Failure to follow the reference methodology increases the number of cases of hypertension artificially. In order to avoid this risk, the practitioner should refer to normographic scales, use the same method and apparatus and repeat measurements yearly or twice a year in order to eliminate observer error.