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Definitions of Hypertension in Children

  • Chapter
Pediatric Hypertension

Part of the book series: Clinical Hypertension and Vascular Diseases ((CHVD))

Abstract

The manner in which hypertension (HTN) is defined in children has undergone substantial changes over the last several decades. Prior to the availability of statistical data on the normal distribution of blood pressure (BP) during childhood, adult thresholds of BP normality were generally applied to children. Although the specific values recommended to define HTN in adults have migrated downwards in recent years, in general a single set of values is applied to adults regardless of age. In fact, the most recent clinical advisory statement from the Coordinating Committee of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program categorically states that the use of age-adjusted BP targets in adults is “discouraged.” This recommendation has no validity for the evaluation of hypertensive children. Children predictably undergo an age- and height-related rise in BP as they mature, thus requiring the threshold of normality to be continually redefined throughout childhood. This fundamental issue has created confusion among primary care providers who care for hypertensive children, and confounded the clinical investigation of pediatric HTN by researchers.

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Authors
  1. Jonathan M. Sorof MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Texas-Houston, Medical School, Houston, TX, USA

    Ronald J. Portman MD (Chairman, Executive Committee, International Pediatric Hypertension Association, and Professor and Director) & Jonathan M. Sorof MD (Vice Chairman, Executive Committee, International Pediatric Hypertension Association, and Associate Professor) (Chairman, Executive Committee, International Pediatric Hypertension Association, and Professor and Director) &  (Vice Chairman, Executive Committee, International Pediatric Hypertension Association, and Associate Professor)

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, and Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Julie R. Ingelfinger MD (Liaison, Executive Committee, International Pediatric Hypertension Association, Professor of Pediatrics, Senior Consultant in Pediatric Nephrology) (Liaison, Executive Committee, International Pediatric Hypertension Association, Professor of Pediatrics, Senior Consultant in Pediatric Nephrology)

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Sorof, J.M. (2004). Definitions of Hypertension in Children. In: Portman, R.J., Sorof, J.M., Ingelfinger, J.R. (eds) Pediatric Hypertension. Clinical Hypertension and Vascular Diseases. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-797-0_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-797-0_8

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-6149-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-797-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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