The incidence of asymptomatic hypertension in school children.
BACKGROUND
Although hypertension is a well-documented risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction and stroke, in adults, only recently has knowledge about childhood hypertension increased significantly.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of asymptomatic hypertension in school-age children.


METHODS
Children in primary school were chosen with a randomized sampling method. During measurement of blood pressure, a calm, comfortable setting was provided. Blood pressure measurements were performed by only 1 researcher. For accurate measurement of blood pressure, recommended standards were followed.


RESULTS
A total of 1,963 children were included in the study. The incidence of systolic hypertension and diastolic hypertension were 7% and 2%, respectively. Obesity was present in 10.5% girls with hypertension and 13.9% of boys with hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that hypertension is an important health problem in children, and its prevalence is quite high. Blood pressure measurements must be a part of routine clinical examinations. Further studies should be performed in high-risk populations to prevent hypertension and to establish methods of early diagnosis and treatment in children.
Akgun
Cihangir
C
Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Yüzüncü Yil University, School of Medicine, Van, Turkey.
Dogan
Murat
M
Akbayram
Sinan
S
Tuncer
Oguz
O
Peker
Erdal
E
Taskin
Gökmen
G
Arslan
Sükrü
S
Arslan
Derya
D
D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013599:Systole; D014421:Turkey