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Hypertension in Children: Narrative Review of Epidemiology, Outcome and Target Organ Damage

Joseph Mahgerefteh1

  • 1Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Kravis Children's Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 26, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric hypertension, affecting 4% of children, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for managing blood pressure and preventing long-term heart issues.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Hypertension is the primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease globally.
  • Pediatric hypertension affects approximately 4% of children, often clustering with other health disparities.
  • Elevated blood pressure in childhood can track into adulthood, increasing the risk of premature heart disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the epidemiology of pediatric hypertension.
  • To examine the association between pediatric hypertension and cardiovascular outcomes.
  • To synthesize current knowledge on prevalence, blood pressure tracking, and sequelae.

Main Methods:

  • A narrative review of studies.
  • PubMed/MEDLINE database search conducted for studies published between 1997 and April 2026.
  • Focused on epidemiology, blood pressure tracking, and cardiovascular sequelae.

Main Results:

  • Pediatric hypertension is linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk.
  • Blood pressure tracking from childhood to adulthood is evident.
  • Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and echocardiography are key diagnostic tools.

Conclusions:

  • Early identification and management of pediatric hypertension are essential.
  • While intermediate outcomes show improvement with treatment, further research is needed for hard cardiovascular outcomes.
  • Understanding the epidemiology and long-term effects is critical for public health strategies.

Keywords:
cardiovascularepidemiologyhypertensionpediatrictarget organ damage

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