Highlights the need for population-specific blood pressure reference norms for Saudi children and adolescents.
T he assessment of blood pressure (BP) and prevention of hypertension in children and adolescents has become a worldwide priority. 1 Childhood blood pressure is predictive of adult blood pressure. 2 Therefore, measurement of blood pressure is considered to be an integral part of the clinical exa a amination. To define a standard for blood pressure in children, the Task Force on Blood Pressure Control in Children in the United States published a series of reports on blood pressure levels related to age, height and weight from birth to 18 years. 4a6 The distribution of blood pressure levels and the prevalence of hypertena a sion vary in different racial and ethnic groups. 7a11 The variation is dependent upon a multitude of factors, both genetic and environmental. Based on these variations, reference norms developed for one particular populaa a tion may not be applicable to others.
Salloum et al. (Fri,) studied this question.