Questionnaire survey on pediatric hypertension in Japan and Korea.
BACKGROUND
Hypertension (HTN) is no longer viewed as an adult disease. The purpose of the present study was to understand how hypertensive children are evaluated and managed, by surveying pediatricians in Japan and South Korea.


METHODS
A questionnaire was mailed to 109 Japanese (JA) and 159 Korean (KO) pediatric cardiologists, pediatric nephrologists, and other pediatricians.


RESULTS
A total of 127 replies were received (response rate 47%). Most of respondents did not check blood pressure (BP) routinely in outpatient clinics (JA 77%, KO 88%). A mercury sphygmomanometer was the most commonly used method for BP measurements (JA 72%, KO 62%). BP treatment goals were usually set at the 95th percentile for age, gender, and height (JA 47%, KO 54%). More KO used a lower goal in children with primary HTN than JA. KO respondents preferred angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) as initial agents regardless of underlying diseases whereas JA respondents chose various medications, that is, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, and ACEI. For BP monitoring, self-monitoring was found to be most frequent in both countries (JA 80%, KO 57%). Ambulatory BP monitoring was not frequently utilized in both countries (JA 33% KO 34%).


CONCLUSIONS
The current assessment, management and differing trends in pediatric HTN in Japan and Korea have been identified in the present study. Pediatricians should be aware of the growing implications of HTN in children.
Yim
Hyung Eun
HE
Department of Pediatrics, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
Eun Hee
EH
Jang
Gi Young
GY
Yoo
Kee Hwan
KH
Son
Chang Sung
CS
Hong
Young Sook
YS
Lee
Joo Won
JW
Ito
Yuhei
Y
Ikezumi
Yohei
Y
Uchiyama
Makoto
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014600:Utilization Review
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents