Athletic Participation by Children and Adolescents Who Have Systemic Hypertension

Abstract

Children and adolescents who have hypertension may be at risk for complications when exercise causes their blood pressure to rise even higher. The purpose of this statement is to update recommendations concerning the athletic participation of individuals with hypertension, including special populations such as those with spinal cord injuries or obesity, by using the guidelines from “The 36th Bethesda Conference: Eligibility Recommendations for Competitive Athletes with Cardiovascular Abnormalities”; “The Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents”; and “The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.”

Factores de riesgo cardiovascular hallados en ocasión del examen médico en niños deportistas

“…Las publicaciones similares en niños deportistas son limitadas. [4][5]7,9 En una de ellas se asocia la hipertensión arterial con la obesidad y el eventual desarrollo de hipertensión sostenida en 80% de los atletas que la presentaron al inicio de temporada. 7 La detección permite adecuar el tipo y el nivel de entrenamiento para evitar mayor sobrecarga cardiovascular.…”

“…Su detección es relevante, pues ambas pueden contribuir a la aparición de eventos cardiovasculares durante la práctica deportiva. [4][5][6][7][8][9] Los objetivos fueron estimar la distribución de factores de riesgo cardiovascular personales en una población específica de jóvenes atletas y relacionar la presencia de factores de riesgo en los padres o abuelos con la condición clínica de los niños. El estudio fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética Independiente Externo de Clínica Mediterráneo (Almería, España) antes de su inicio.…”

Primary hypertension and special aspects of hypertension in older children and adolescents

“…The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a policy statement regarding athletic participation by children and adolescents with hypertension 137. Regular exercise has been shown to help reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, thus regular physical activity is encouraged in those with hypertension 11.…”

“…The American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations include no limitation of competitive athletics for youths with prehypertension or Stage I hypertension in the absence of end organ damage, including left ventricular hypertrophy or concomitant heart disease. For youths with Stage II hypertension without end organ damage, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends restrictions on highly static sports (classes IIIA and IIIC in Figure 2) until their blood pressure normalizes after therapy 137…”

Cardiovascular risk factors encountered during medical examination in athletic children

“…Detecting obesity and hypertension is relevant since they can contribute to the onset of cardiovascular events while practicing a sport. [4][5][6][7][8][9] The objectives were to estimate the distribution of ICVRFs in a specific population of young athletes and to establish the relationship between the presence of risk factors in parents or grandparents and the children's clinical condition.…”