Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 9, 2025

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Children
09:45

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Children

Published on: April 29, 2013

21.2K

Characteristics of Danish children registered with and pharmacologically treated for hypertension

Adam Femerling Langhoff1, Malene Landbo Børresen, Malgorzata Pulczynska Wason

  • 1adam.femerling.langhoff@regionh.dk.

Danish Medical Journal
|April 8, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric hypertension diagnosis and treatment are crucial. This study highlights the importance of evaluating target-organ damage in all hypertensive children, especially those with secondary hypertension, to guide treatment and reduce long-term risks.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Previous studies indicate a low prevalence of hypertension in Danish children (0.04%), with over half receiving pharmacological treatment.
  • This study focuses on pharmacologically treated pediatric hypertension cases at the initiation of antihypertensive therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe pharmacologically treated pediatric hypertension cases at the onset of antihypertensive therapy.
  • To assess the evaluation of target-organ damage in these children and identify areas for improvement.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective review of medical records for children under 16 diagnosed with hypertension and treated with antihypertensive medicine in Central and Eastern Denmark (April 2014 - May 2015).
  • Analysis of the cohort's demographic data, etiology of hypertension, and extent of target-organ damage evaluation (echocardiography, retinal examination, proteinuria).

Main Results:

  • The cohort comprised 119 children, with 61% boys. The majority (80%) had secondary hypertension, predominantly of renal etiology (52%).
  • Target-organ damage evaluations were performed in 77% (echocardiography), 74% (retinal exam), and 100% (proteinuria).
  • Abnormalities were detected in 39% (echocardiography), 16% (retinal exam), and 66% (proteinuria) in renal etiology cases, and 30%, 24%, and 35% respectively in others. Notably, examinations were less frequent in renal etiology cases.

Conclusions:

  • Target-organ damage evaluation was less comprehensive in hypertensive children with renal etiology compared to other causes.
  • Comprehensive evaluation for target-organ damage is recommended for all hypertensive children to inform treatment decisions and mitigate long-term morbidity.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Software for Analysis of Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Time-series Data from the Valsalva Maneuver14:28

Software for Analysis of Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Time-series Data from the Valsalva Maneuver

Published on: June 27, 2025

612
Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis05:52

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Published on: November 21, 2013

15.1K

Related Concept Videos

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:30

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
175
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
76
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
96
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
70
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
80
Hypertension I: Introduction01:28

Hypertension I: Introduction

Hypertension is a widespread, long-term medical condition where blood pressure in the arteries remains elevated. It is characterized by systolic blood pressure readings of 130 mm Hg or above or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) readings of 80 mm Hg or higher. Unmanaged hypertension poses significant health risks, making the distinction between primary (or essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension crucial, as their management and implications vary.Primary HypertensionPrimary hypertension,...
296