The incidence of asymptomatic hypertension in school children

Abstract

Background: Although hypertension is a well-documented risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction and stroke, in adults, only recently has knowledge about childhood hypertension increased significantly. Aim: To determine the incidence of asymptomatic hypertension in school-age children. Subjects and Methods: Children in primary school were chosen with a randomized sampling method. During measurement of blood pressure, a calm, comfortable setting was provided. Blood pressure measurements were performed by only 1 researcher. For accurate measurement of blood pressure, recommended standards were followed. Results: A total of 1,963 children were included in the study. The incidence of systolic hypertension and diastolic hypertension were 7% and 2%, respectively. Obesity was present in 10.5% girls with hypertension and 13.9% of boys with hypertension. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that hypertension is an important health problem in children, and its prevalence is quite high. Blood pressure measurements must be a part of routine clinical examinations. Further studies should be performed in high-risk populations to prevent hypertension and to establish methods of early diagnosis and treatment in children.