Pediatric Hypertension

Pediatr Ann. 2020 Apr 1;49(4):e155-e160. doi: 10.3928/19382359-20200320-01.

Abstract

Hypertension is an important and often overlooked problem in the pediatric population. In 2017, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated their guidelines for the diagnosis and management of hypertension. The new guidelines include a refined definition of the blood pressure stages and also a new diagnostic reference table with updated data excluding those with overweight or obesity. It also simplified the diagnostic criteria for adolescents and provided a screening table for easier use in the clinical setting. Along with the simplified diagnostic criteria, the new guidelines stress the importance of accurate blood pressure measurements and the growing importance of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. With these revised guidelines, the diagnosis and management of blood pressure in the pediatric population should be clearer and easier to implement in clinical practice. [Pediatr Ann. 2020;49(4):e155-e160.].

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Blood Pressure Determination / methods
  • Blood Pressure Determination / standards
  • Child
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Healthy Lifestyle
  • Humans
  • Hypertension* / diagnosis
  • Hypertension* / epidemiology
  • Hypertension* / etiology
  • Hypertension* / therapy
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Risk Factors
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents