Commentary - (2025) Volume 14, Issue 1
Received: 01-Feb-2025, Manuscript No. jhoa-25-168493;
Editor assigned: 03-Feb-2025, Pre QC No. P-168493;
Reviewed: 15-Feb-2025, QC No. Q-168493;
Revised: 22-Feb-2025, Manuscript No. R-168493;
Published:
28-Feb-2025
, DOI: 10.37421/2167-1095.2024.14.506
Citation: Kaufman, Rossi. “Pediatric Hypertension: Early-onset Cardiovascular Risk and the Need for Proactive Screening” J Hypertens 14 (2025): 506.
Copyright: © 2025 Kaufman R. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
The prevalence of pediatric hypertension is estimated to be 3â??5% globally, though this may be an underestimation due to inconsistent screening practices. Secondary hypertension often resulting from renal, endocrine, or cardiovascular disorders predominates in younger children, whereas primary (essential) hypertension becomes more common during adolescence. The primary risk factors include obesity, family history of hypertension, high sodium intake, physical inactivity and metabolic syndrome. Racial and ethnic disparities are also evident, with higher rates observed among African American and Hispanic youth. Additionally, prenatal factors such as low birth weight and maternal preeclampsia are linked to altered vascular development and increased hypertension risk later in life. Psychosocial stress, screen time and poor sleep hygiene further contribute to rising incidence. Understanding these risk profiles enables targeted preventive strategies and the development of culturally sensitive health education campaigns aimed at families and schools [2].
Diagnosing hypertension in children is more complex than in adults due to age-, sex- and height-specific percentiles used to define elevated blood pressure. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), hypertension is defined as average systolic or diastolic BP â?¥ 95th percentile for age, sex and height on three or more occasions. However, many healthcare providers do not routinely measure BP in children, especially in younger age groups, leading to underdiagnosis. Furthermore, elevated readings are often dismissed as white-coat hypertension or attributed to stress. Clinical signs may be absent, although symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, or blurred vision may occasionally occur. Secondary hypertension may present with features of underlying disease, including growth retardation or electrolyte abnormalities. Accurate diagnosis requires appropriately sized BP cuffs, standardized protocols and, in select cases, confirmation with Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM). Greater provider awareness, updated clinical guidelines and integration of BP screening into pediatric well-child visits are essential to overcoming diagnostic inertia [3].
Pediatric hypertension is not a benign or transient condition it is associated with target organ damage, even in asymptomatic individuals. Structural and functional cardiovascular changes, including left ventricular hypertrophy, increased carotid intima-media thickness and arterial stiffness, have been documented in hypertensive youth. Studies also show an early onset of renal impairment, endothelial dysfunction and microalbuminuria. Importantly, blood pressure levels in childhood track into adulthood, significantly elevating the risk of ischemic heart disease, stroke and premature mortality. Children with persistent hypertension are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia exacerbating cardiovascular risk. These findings reinforce the need for early, aggressive intervention to prevent irreversible organ damage and interrupt the trajectory toward adult cardiovascular disease. Longitudinal research further supports that reducing BP in youth can reverse or mitigate these subclinical changes, highlighting the value of early therapeutic engagement [4-5].
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Journal of Hypertension: Open Access received 614 citations as per Google Scholar report