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Update on Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Children

  • Pediatric Nephrology (BP Dixon and E Nehus, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This article highlights the importance of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) for the diagnosis of hypertension (HTN) in children and appropriate technique for performing ABPM, following a recent scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) in 2022. We will also discuss the association of ABPM results with target organ damage (TOD).

Recent Findings

There is growing evidence to suggest that HTN in youth is associated with TOD and increased risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Our current management of youth HTN and studies of its consequences are based on the recent AHA pediatric ABPM guidelines, which provided streamlined BP categories aligned with adults and European guidelines. The update increased the diagnosis of HTN in children and appears to have improved the prediction of TOD compared to the 2014 pediatric ABPM guidelines.

Summary

The management of pediatric HTN includes accurate diagnosis and early intervention to prevent TOD. While office BP can be used as a screening technique, ABPM should be used to confirm the diagnosis of HTN in all pediatric patients using the 2022 AHA pediatric ABPM guidelines. However, there are some limitations associated with performing ABPM in children, including a lack of ambulatory BP criteria for diverse pediatric populations and for young children.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, The University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, School of Community Medicine, Tulsa, OK, USA

    Nisha S Singh

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Nephrology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, OU Health, 1200 Children’s Ave, Suite 14501, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA

    Ikuyo Yamaguchi

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Correspondence to Ikuyo Yamaguchi.

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Nisha S Singh declares no conflict of interest. Ikuyo Yamaguchi declares no conflict of interest.

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Singh, N.S., Yamaguchi, I. Update on Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Children. Curr Treat Options Peds 9, 328–337 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40746-023-00280-3

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