High blood pressure in children is not uncommon, and research shows it may lead to high blood pressure in adulthood, as well as problems with the heart, blood vessels and kidneys, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association published in the Association’s Hypertension journal. An American Heart Association scientific statement is an expert analysis of current research and may inform future guidelines.
The new scientific statement reviews current evidence of what leads to high blood pressure in children and adolescents and highlights clinical and public health implications for health care professionals, researchers and the public.
Statement Highlights:
- Primary hypertension—high blood pressure that is not due to an underlying medical condition—occurs in up to 5% of children and adolescents in the U.S. and other countries.
- Having high blood pressure as a child often leads to high blood pressure in adulthood, which may increase the likelihood of heart disease and stroke, as well as cause damage to the kidneys, eyes and more.
- Some risk factors that increase the chances for high blood pressure in children are modifiable, while others are not.
- Regular and appropriate assessment of blood pressure levels in children is important, as there are often no symptoms of high blood pressure.
- Public health initiatives and more research are needed to develop a greater understanding and treatment recommendations surrounding high blood pressure in children and adolescents.
