-Report on Experiments and Clinical Cases-

The Incidence of Asymptomatic Hypertension in School Children

Cihangir Akgun¹, Murat Doğan², Sinan Akbayram², Oğuz Tuncer², Erdal Peker², Gökmen Taşkin², Şükrü Arslan¹ and Derya Arslan²

¹Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Yüzüncü Yıl University, School of Medicine, Van, Turkey
²Department of Pediatrics, Yüzüncü Yıl University, School of Medicine, Van, Turkey

Background: Although hypertension is a well-documented risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction and stroke, in adults, only recently has knowledge about childhood hypertension increased significantly.
Aim: To determine the incidence of asymptomatic hypertension in school-age children.
Subjects and Methods: Children in primary school were chosen with a randomized sampling method. During measurement of blood pressure, a calm, comfortable setting was provided. Blood pressure measurements were performed by only 1 researcher. For accurate measurement of blood pressure, recommended standards were followed.
Results: A total of 1,963 children were included in the study. The incidence of systolic hypertension and diastolic hypertension were 7% and 2%, respectively. Obesity was present in 10.5% girls with hypertension and 13.9% of boys with hypertension.
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that hypertension is an important health problem in children, and its prevalence is quite high. Blood pressure measurements must be a part of routine clinical examinations. Further studies should be performed in high-risk populations to prevent hypertension and to establish methods of early diagnosis and treatment in children.

J Nippon Med Sch 2010; 77: 160-165

Keywords
hypertension, school children

Correspondence to
Murat Doğan, MD, Hafiziye Mah, Kazım Karabekir Cad, Araştırma Hastanesi Arkası, Uğur Sitesi, D blok, Kat: 4, No: 9, 65100, Van, Turkey
doganmurat.md@gmail.com

Received, August 21, 2009
Accepted, March 1, 2010