Why the study?
Data show detrimental effects of high BP can occur at levels considered normal by current pediatric guidelines, supporting evaluation of a lower threshold of concern.
What level of blood pressure is concerning in childhood?
What level of blood pressure is concerning in childhood?
Evidence suggests that detrimental end-organ effects of elevated blood pressure in children begin at the 90th percentile, challenging the current 95th percentile threshold for hypertension.
Subclinical organ effects emerge below current pediatric BP thresholds; hypothesis-generating for earlier intervention, needs prospective confirmation.
The 95th percentile of blood pressure (BP) among healthy children is the currently accepted level used to denote a hypertensive BP reading in pediatric patients. Yet, ample data have emerged showing that the detrimental effects of high BP can be demonstrated at BP levels considered normal by current guidelines. Cardiac, vascular, cognitive, and kidney effects have been shown starting at the 90th percentile in cross-sectional studies, and markers of adult cardiovascular disease appear in longitudinal cohorts whose members had modestly elevated or even normal BP as youth. This review summarizes data that support a lower threshold of concern for children and adolescents, and outlines some of the remaining questions to be answered before a lower threshold BP level could be adopted.
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A 2022 study studied this question.
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