Key result
Height matching shows age has no independent impact on blood pressure in children.
Why the study?
Hypertension in children is frequently undiagnosed and current blood pressure cutoffs based on age and height are time consuming to apply, necessitating investigation of the independent effect of age on blood pressure when matched by height.
Does age independently affect blood pressure in children when height is held constant?
Comparison
Blood pressure levels among four age groups matched by height
Design
Multiple group matched observational study
Authors
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Prioritizes height over age for BP norms in children 7-10 years; leaves open longitudinal validation before practice change.
Observational (n=10,156)
Yes
Does age independently affect blood pressure in children when height is held constant?
Mean Difference: 0.6 (95% CI -0.1–1.3)
p-value: p=not significant
Once height is taken into consideration, age has little independent impact on blood pressure in children aged 7 to 10 years, suggesting that normal blood pressure percentiles could be simplified by using height alone.
Wang et al. (2011) conducted an observational in Blood pressure assessment (n=10,156). Age (7 to 10 years) vs. Matched by height was evaluated on Systolic and diastolic blood pressure differences among age groups after matching for height (MD 0.6 mm Hg, 95% CI -0.1 to 1.3, p=not significant). After matching for height, blood pressure levels were strikingly similar across children aged 7 to 10 years, with a maximum difference of only 0.6 mm Hg, indicating age has little independent impact on blood pressure.