Comparison of Different Screening Methods for Hypertension in Han Adolescents

The aim of this study was to compare different methods of screening for hypertension in Han adolescents. We analyzed data on 3136 Han adolescents (1601 boys and 1535 girls) aged 13 to 17 years from the adolescents hypertension survey of Qinhuangdao in 2006. The blood pressure was classified as without hypertension and with hypertension, consistent with the 2004 Working Group on High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents guidelines and the selected screening methods. Sensitivity and specificity were then calculated according to gender range. Somu's formulas and the table proposed by Chiolero had low sensitivities (58.4% to 83.1%), despite good specificities (99.0% to 100.0%). The tables proposed by Mitchell and Kaelber had high sensitivities (100%), but their specificities were low (62.0% to 73.8%). Blood pressure-to-height ratio (BPHR) was a good compromise between sensitivities (boys 99.1% and girls 98.9%) and specificities (boys 91.0% and girls 94.9%). As screening tools, the table proposed by Mitchell and Kaelber and BPHR have high sensitivities. However, BPHR demonstrated specific advantages, and it does not require tables.