Screening and Management of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents

Atherosclerosis begins in childhood and is associated with numerous cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension.¹ Pediatric hypertension is associated with cardiovascular target organ damage, which in turn is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in adulthood.² Reversal of cardiac target organ damage has been demonstrated with antihypertensive therapy in adults and children,³ and lower left ventricular mass in adults is associated with reduced CVD.⁴ Pediatric hypertension demonstrates tracking into adulthood.⁵ Despite these risks and outcomes, pediatric hypertension frequently remains unidentified.⁶