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Screening blood pressure measurement in children: are we saving lives?

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Abstract

Blood Pressure screening in children and adolescents is currently recommended by several prominent medical organizations, including the American Heart Association, the National High Blood Pressure Education Program, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the European Society of Hypertension, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. This practice was recently subject to intense scientific review by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The conclusion of the Task Force was that “current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for primary hypertension in asymptomatic children and adolescents.” This commentary provides an alternate interpretation of current evidence for blood pressure screening in children and adolescents and highlights its importance as a part of routine medical care.

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Abbreviations

BP:

Blood pressure

CV:

Cardiovascular

LVH:

Left ventricular hypertrophy

USPSTF:

United States Preventive Services Task Force

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the members of the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology Council for their input and endorsement of this commentary.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Tammy M. Brady

  2. Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 1 Children’s Way, Slot 512-14, Little Rock, AR, 72202, USA

    Karen M. Redwine

  3. Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA

    Joseph T. Flynn

Authors
  1. Tammy M. Brady
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  2. Karen M. Redwine
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  3. Joseph T. Flynn
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for the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology

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Correspondence to Karen M. Redwine.

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Brady, T.M., Redwine, K.M., Flynn, J.T. et al. Screening blood pressure measurement in children: are we saving lives?. Pediatr Nephrol 29, 947–950 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-013-2715-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-013-2715-1

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