Long-term prognosis of juvenile hypertension.
A longitudinal study of juvenile hypertension made possible to investigate after 20 years 73% of a group of young hypertensives (original age 14--29 years, arterial blood pressure 170/100 and higher 20 years ago), which was originally investigated in 1952--1954. The surprising result was that 35.5% had a normal blood pressure without treatment in the interval, 40.2% showed the same level of hypertension, 5.7% showed higher blood pressure levels but without any new organic changes, 1.5% had the same blood pressure as 20 years earlier, but now required drug therapy as opposed to previously. Only 17.1% of the patients showed any convincing evidence of progression of the disease, i.e. the development of new organic changes. The prognosis of moderate hypertension at a young age is significantly correlated with: a) the occurence of hypertension in the parent; b) the life expectancy of the parents; and c) the initial values of blood pressure. There was no correlation between prognosis and over-weight, weight gain in the past 20 years, original or present heart rate, smoking, alcohol intake or physical activity, participation in sports or the living standard of the given individual.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011379:Prognosis; D012907:Smoking / Q000150:complications