Preventive services: blood pressure checks at well child visits

The objective of this study was to determine rates of blood pressure (BP) screening at well-child visits as recommended by the Task Force on Blood Pressure Control in Children. The 1985 and 1996 National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys were analyzed for changes in proportion of well visits for children aged 3-18 years at which BP was checked. Patient and physician demographics are described. BP screening increased from 50% in 1985 to 61% in 1996. For pediatricians, the estimates were 50% (95% CI, 43-57) and 60% (95% CI, 53-68). For family/general medicine the estimates were 51% (95% CI, 34-69) and 58% (95% CI, 43-74). Age, geographic location, and length of a visit were significant in predicting BP screening. Gender, race, ethnicity, or urban location were not. A stepwise logistic regression confirmed these results. Rates of screening BP at well-child visits have increased but fall short of current recommendations. High-risk children are not screened at a rate different from their lower risk peers.