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Defining and Diagnosing Elevated Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents

  • Pediatrics (S. Gidding, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Pediatric hypertension is one of the top ten chronic diseases of children and adolescents, affecting millions of children and adolescents across the USA. The majority of pediatric hypertension and elevated blood pressures in the pediatric population are under recognized and underdiagnosed. Here, we review the current definitions of elevated blood pressure and hypertension in the pediatric population. We also review and discuss approaches and tools to assistant in the recognition of elevated blood pressures and outstanding issues related to blood pressure definitions and diagnoses. Improved understanding of the definition of elevated blood pressures and hypertension in the pediatric population, as well as techniques to improve their recognition are critical to identify and then manage this important pediatric disease.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA

    Rebecca Frankel

  2. The Center for Clinical Informatics Research and Education, The MetroHealth System, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, 44109, OH, USA

    Abbinaya Elangovan & David C. Kaelber

  3. Departments of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA

    David C. Kaelber

Authors
  1. Rebecca Frankel
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  2. Abbinaya Elangovan
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  3. David C. Kaelber
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Correspondence to David C. Kaelber.

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Ms. Frankel and Drs. Elangovan and Kaelber no conflicts of interest.

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This article does not contain studies with human or animal subjects performed by the author.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Pediatrics

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Frankel, R., Elangovan, A. & Kaelber, D.C. Defining and Diagnosing Elevated Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents. Curr Cardiovasc Risk Rep 10, 43 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12170-016-0519-0

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