Key result
The prevalence of hypertension among adolescents in Asia ranges from 0.7% to 24.5%, with East Asia having the highest overall prevalence at 14.25% and urban areas generally showing higher rates.
Why the study?
Existing studies have predominantly focused on adult populations, leaving gaps in region-specific data regarding elevated blood pressure and hypertension among adolescents across Asia.
Systematic Review (n=200,000)
The increasing prevalence of adolescent hypertension in urban Asia, reaching up to 24.5% in some areas, highlights a significant public health concern requiring standardized diagnostic criteria and targeted interventions.
Urban-rural disparities in adolescent hypertension warrant targeted screening; leaves open need for standardized criteria and prospective studies.
Background: Hypertension among adolescents in Asia is an emerging public health concern that is directly associated with early onset cardiovascular risks. As such, it can also lead to further health issues and challenges for health care in the future. As existing studies have predominantly focussed on adult populations, we sought to provide targeted insights into adolescent hypertension across Asia, elucidating the impact of rapid lifestyle and environmental changes on this younger population. Therefore, in this systematic review, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence and trends of elevated blood pressure (BP) and hypertension among adolescents aged 10-19 years across Asia, address gaps in region-specific data, and determine any demographic risk factors. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus for cross-sectional studies on adolescent hypertension/elevated BP in Asia published from January 2019 to June 2024, after which we narratively synthesised their findings. Results: Of the 2634 retrieved studies, 39 met the inclusion criteria, covering over 200 000 adolescents in Asia. The prevalence of hypertension ranges from 0.7% in urban Bangladesh to 24.5% in urban Malaysia, with urban areas generally showing higher rates than rural areas (e.g. India: 8.4% urban vs. 5.7% rural). By region, East Asia has the highest overall prevalence (14.25%), followed by West Asia (14.14%), South Asia (13.77%), Southeast Asia (13.16%), and Central Asia (12.37%). Males had higher prevalence rates (for example, 22.3% in Chinese males vs. 20% in females). Conclusions: The increasing prevalence of adolescent hypertension in urban Asia is a significant public health concern. Although extensive research has been conducted in East and South Asia, there is a dearth of studies in Western, Southeast, and Central Asia, emphasising a need for future research. Standardised diagnostic criteria and targeted interventions are crucial for addressing regional disparities and reducing long-term cardiovascular risks.
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Islam et al. (2025) conducted a systematic review in Hypertension and elevated blood pressure (n=200,000). Adolescence in Asia was evaluated on Prevalence of hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension among adolescents in Asia ranges from 0.7% to 24.5%, with East Asia having the highest overall prevalence at 14.25% and urban areas generally showing higher rates.
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