Epidemiology of Childhood Onset Essential Hypertension

Abstract

The knowledge of epidemiology of a disease is paramount in identifying preventive measures. Currently there is a paucity of literature on the epidemiologic determinants of childhood onset essential hypertension (EH). We evaluated children with EH, ascertained in a rigorous manner, in a large multiethnic population in a tertiary pediatric hypertension clinic. We enrolled children with and without EH and obtained data by in-person interview of their parents and by direct anthropometric measurements including blood pressures. A total of 148 children (76 hypertension probands, 72 control probands, and males 53%, mean age 12.2 ± 4.3 years) were enrolled. Of these 148 children, 51 pairs were matched 1:1 on ethnicity, gender and age (±2.5 years). In this study we evaluated the demographics, genetic predisposition and a variety of exposures including, socioeconomic, perinatal, lifestyle and environmental, between cases and controls. All measures were similar between cases and controls other than a significantly higher BMI (p = 0.01) and rates of obesity (p = 0.03), and a difference of near-significance in any family history of EH (p = 0.05) higher in cases compared to controls. The odds of obesity was 3.5 times higher among cases than controls. In this study, we evaluated a variety of prenatal and postnatal exposures that could potentially contributed to the EH phenotype in childhood. The findings of the study elucidate the epidemiology of EH in children and two important associated risk factors, any family history of hypertension and a higher body weight.

Implications of the 2017 AAP Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Hypertension in Children and Adolescents: a Review

“…Except for girls ages 13 to 17 years, the difference in prevalence became larger between the two guidelines with increasing BMI. In agreement with prior studies[19], this study demonstrates strong and consistent associations between obesity, family history, early life factors, and behavioral factors.…”

Correlation between serum miR-122 and myocardial damage and ventricular function in patients with essential hypertension

“…For the last few years, the morbidity of EH is increasing, which may be due to improvements in living conditions and increases in the pace and stress of life. In particular, although the diagnostic, therapeutic, and control rates of EH in young people are lower than those in elderly people, the prevalence of EH in young people has increased (1,2). EH is a complex disease, and it is imperative to diagnose EH at an early stage to forbid subsequent complications.…”

The Effect of Nutrition Education on Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, Mid-upper Arm Circumference and Blood Pressure in Obese Adolescents

“…Research shows that hypertension in children and adolescents is related to a higher body weight (overweight or obese) (14). Children and adolescents generally have blood pressure less than 120/80 mmHg; a measurement that is considered normal in adults but can indicate hypertension problems in children and adolescents depending on age, sex, and height.…”