Screening for Hypertension in High School

Arterial hypertension is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular stroke. Blood pressure measurements were taken in the supine position in 6,282 healthy adolescents (3073 boys, 3209 girls) aged 13-17 years of both sexes. Forty-eight subjects were found to have hypertension: 35 idopathic and 13 secondary to reflux nephropathy, chronic glomerulonephritis, coarctation of the aorta, and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Systolic blood pressure was significantly higher among males than females at ages 15-17 years (p<0.001); diastolic blood pressure was higher among males at age 17 years only (p<0.05). Males with BMI>17 exhibited higher systolic blood pressure than females. Prevalence of hypertension, mostly primary, in a large cohort of students was 0.76%. Early screening is important for early interventions and reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adulthood.