Hypertensive children <6 years old had a significantly higher diastolic blood pressure index (1.1 vs 1.0, P<0.0001) and lower eGFR than older children, and were more likely to have secondary hypertension.
Cross-Sectional (n=351)
Yes
Hypertensive children under 6 years old exhibit a distinct clinical profile characterized by higher rates of secondary hypertension, lower eGFR, and higher diastolic blood pressure index compared to older children and adolescents.
Absolute Event Rate: 1.1% vs 1%
p-value: p=<0.0001
Most information describing hypertension in the young comes from single-center reports. To better understand contemporary demographic and clinical characteristics of hypertensive children and adolescents, we examined baseline data on 351 children aged 1 to 95 percentile compared with older children. Estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly lower in children95 percentile was significantly lower in children aged<6 years. Diastolic blood pressure index (subject blood pressure÷95 percentile) was significantly higher in children<6 years old (1.1 versus 1.0 in both the 6 to <12 years and 12 to <17 years groups; both P<0.0001). We conclude that hypertensive children<6 years are more likely to have secondary hypertension and to have higher diastolic blood pressure and lower glomerular filtration rate and are less likely to be obese or to have elevated cholesterol than school-aged children or adolescents. These findings emphasize unique aspects of childhood hypertension that should be considered when evaluating children and adolescents with elevated blood pressure and in designing future clinical trials.
Flynn et al. (2012) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension (n=351). Age <6 years vs. Age 6 to <17 years was evaluated on Diastolic blood pressure index (p=<0.0001). Hypertensive children <6 years old had a significantly higher diastolic blood pressure index (1.1 vs 1.0, P<0.0001) and lower eGFR than older children, and were more likely to have secondary hypertension.