Comparative Analysis of American Academy of Pediatrics and European Society of Hypertension Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Hypertension

Childhood hypertension (HTN) has become a significant public health issue because of the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. However, childhood HTN is underrecognized and underdiagnosed in clinical practice. The European Society of Hypertension in 2016 and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 2017 published updated guidelines for the screening, prevention, and management of pediatric HTN. There were notable differences between the two guidelines as well as many similarities. The updated AAP guidelines have clarified and simplified the recommendations for screening, diagnosis, and treatment of childhood HTN based on current evidence. This review highlights the important developments in both guidelines, focusing on recent advances in the classification and treatment of childhood HTN.

Body mass index trajectory from childhood to puberty and high blood pressure: the China Health and Nutrition Survey

ObjectivesThe prevalence of childhood hypertension is rising in parallel with the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in children. How growth trajectories from childhood to puberty relate to high blood pressure (HBP) is not well defined. We aimed to characterise potential body mass index (BMI) dynamic changing trajectories from childhood to puberty and investigate their association with HBP.DesignA dynamic prospective cohort.SettingChina Health and Nutrition Survey 1991–2015.ParticipantsThere were 1907 participants (1027 men and 880 women) in this study.OutcomesThe primary outcome was HBP defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP)/diastolic blood pressure (DBP) exceeding the standards or diagnosis by medical records or taking antihypertensive medication.ResultsA model of cubic parameters with three groups was chosen, labelled as normal increasing group (85.16%, n=1624), high increasing group (9.81%, n=187) and resolving group (5.03%, n=96). Compared with the normal increasing group, the unadjusted HRs (95% CIs) for the resolving and high increasing groups were 0.91 (0.45 to 1.86) and 1.88 (1.26 to 2.81), respectively. After adjusting for baseline age, region, sex, baseline BMI z-score, baseline SBP and baseline DBP in model 3, the HRs (95% CIs) for the resolving and high increasing groups were 0.66 (0.30 to 1.45) and 1.56 (1.02 to 2.38).ConclusionsThese results indicate that the BMI trajectories from childhood to puberty have significant impact on HBP risk. Puberty is a crucial period for the development of HBP.

Study of occurrence of childhood hypertension in school going children attending pediatrics OPD in Moradabad city

Background: In developed countries, childhood hypertension is a proven indicator of adult hypertension and organ damage and is estimated to be great concern. This study was conducted to assess the occurrence of childhood hypertension in school going children attending pediatrics OPD.Methods: An observational study was performed at TMMC and RC among 500 school going children attending pediatrics OPD in TMMC and RC over a period of 1 year. Socio-demographic variables including age, gender, family history of hypertension, parental smoking habits were recorded in a proforma. Dietary habits including consumption of junk food, fruits and daily calorie intake was evaluated utilizing number of times diet intake questionnaire and 24 hour recall method. Height was measured by stadiometer with candidate posing in bare feet. Weight assessment was done with bare footed and candidate clad in light clothing with weighing instrument of electronic type rounded to nearest unit.Results: Elevated blood pressure and hypertension was reported among 9.4% and 6.8% of the subjects respectively. High blood pressure was significantly associated with presence of family history, stress and lack daily physical activity. Chances of elevated blood pressure and hypertension increase along with the increase in subject height, weight and BMI.Conclusions: Performing the BP measurements in routine consultations becomes essential for diagnosis and early intervention.

Factors Associated with Primary Hypertension in Pediatric Patients: An Up-to-Date

Background:: Arterial hypertension in children is considered a common alteration nowadays, mainly because obesity is a growing worldwide problem closely related to increased blood pressure. Childhood hypertension can be classified as primary or secondary, depending on the etiology. Primary or essential hypertension still has its pathophysiology not fully elucidated, and there is no consensus in the literature on most underlying mechanisms. In this review, genetic and environmental factors, including sodium and potassium intake, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, family structure, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, prematurity and low birth weight, prenatal and postnatal exposures are highlighted. Objective:: The present study aimed to perform an update on primary hypertension in childhood, providing clinicians and researchers an overview of the current state of the literature regarding the influence of genetic and environmental factors. Methods:: This integrative review searched for articles on genetic and environmental factors related to primary hypertension in pediatric patients. The databases evaluated were PubMed and Scopus. Results:: The studies have provided insights regarding many genetic and environmental factors, in addition to their association with the pathophysiology of primary hypertension in childhood. Findings corroborated the idea that primary hypertension is a multifactorial disease. Further studies in the pediatric population are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Conclusion:: The study of primary hypertension in pediatrics has utmost importance for the adoption of preventive measures and the development of more efficient treatments, therefore reducing childhood morbidity and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and other health consequences later in life.

The Predictors of Hypertension in Children: Palestinian Perspective

Children with high blood pressure are much more likely than children with lower blood pressure to experience hypertension in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and predictors of hypertension in Palestinian children. Method Cross-sectional study was performed on five hundred and nine (10–13) year old students from governmental schools in Jenin and Tubas. Anthropometric measures consist of body mass index, hip circumference (HC), waist circumference (WC), the ratio of waist to hip (WHR), and the ratio of waist to height (WHtR) were measured. Blood pressure was assessed including systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) utilizing a (Dynamap) vital signs monitor. Results Approximately 38.7% of participants (38.8% females and 38.63% males) were considered pre-hypertensive and 7.3% of the participants (7.4% females and 7.1% males) were hypertensive. Also, there was a weak to moderate relationship between mean blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and the anthropometric measurements. Additionally, most predictors with significant effects on early childhood hypertension were body mass index (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.09–1.23). Conclusions Hypertension and prehypertension are present in Palestinian children. Waist hip ratio is the greatest predictor of BP, followed by body mass index. Hence, weight-reduction strategies to at-risk children are crucial to minimizing the prevalence of Palestinian childhood hypertension.

Pediatric hypertension: an updated review

Globally hypertension in adults is among the leading preventable cause of premature death, where a graded association from the childhood hypertension is well recognised. With the concurrent rise in obesity and pediatric hypertension (HTN) during the past decade in developed countries, a parallel trend is emerging in developing countries that has a potential for exponential rise in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal tragedies. A cumulative incidence of pediatric HTN in China and India is 50–70 and 23% respectively, is quite disturbing. New guidelines for the detection, evaluation and management of hypertension in children and adolescents published in 2017, where a jump in prevalence of pediatric HTN is observed, rings a call to address this under-attended burning problem; for which a review in pediatric hypertension and its management is warranted.