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Ten-year follow-up study of children with primary hypertension from Sofia, Bulgaria

R D Rahneva1, D P Belova, R A Nedkova

  • 1Research Institute of Pediatrics, Medical Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Journal of Clinical Hypertension
|December 1, 1987
PubMed

Insights

Childhood primary hypertension (PH) often persists into adulthood, leading to significant cardiovascular and metabolic issues. Long-term follow-up reveals persistent hypertension and target organ damage in a substantial portion of affected children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Hypertension Research
  • Longitudinal Health Studies

Background:

  • Primary hypertension (PH) in children is a growing concern with potential long-term health implications.
  • Understanding the natural course and risk factors associated with childhood PH is crucial for effective management.
  • Previous studies have indicated potential target organ damage and metabolic abnormalities in hypertensive children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term outcomes of childhood primary hypertension over a 10-year period.
  • To assess the persistence of hypertension, development of target organ changes, and influence of risk factors.
  • To compare outcomes with a control group of children with normal blood pressure.

Main Methods:

  • A 10-year longitudinal study (1972-1983) involving 251 children aged 6-15 with primary hypertension.
  • Regular monitoring of blood pressure (BP), target organ status (heart via ECG, x-ray, echocardiography), and metabolic risk factors.
  • Inclusion of a control group of 145 children with normal BP during the same period.

Main Results:

  • After 10 years, 44.2% of children remained hypertensive, 29.9% had borderline hypertension, and 25.9% had normal BP.
  • Significant cardiac functional and structural changes were observed in a considerable number of participants.
  • Prevalence of angioretinopathy (24.0%), hyperlipoproteinemia (45.3%), and low HDL-cholesterol (34.5%) was noted in those with childhood PH.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood primary hypertension frequently persists into later years, highlighting the need for early intervention.
  • Long-term follow-up reveals a significant burden of cardiovascular and metabolic complications in individuals with childhood PH.
  • These findings underscore the importance of continued monitoring and management of pediatric hypertension to prevent long-term sequelae.

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