Blood pressure measurement and screening of hypertension in children
Chiolero, A.; Burnier, M.; Paradis, G.; Paccaud, F.; Bovet, P.
Revue Medicale Suisse 4(170): 1904-6 1908-9
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 1660-9379 PMID: 18847118 Document Number: 622444
Children with elevated blood pressure are at risk of being hypertensive in adulthood and of developing complications such as ventricular hypertrophy. Obesity is a cause of hypertension. Because the prevalence of obesity is increasing, some authors argue that the systematic screening for hypertension in children and adolescents is justified for early prevention and treatment. Sex, age and height all influence children's blood pressure. When elevated blood pressure is identified, complementary investigations and treatment might be necessary. However, due to the difficulties of obtaining a valid estimate of blood pressure, to the moderate tracking of blood pressure from childhood to adulthood, and the rarity of hypertension cases in childhood, the usefulness of systematic screening of hypertension during childhood is still controversial.