Screening and Management of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents

Atherosclerosis begins in childhood and is associated with numerous cardiovascular risk factors, includinghypertension.1Pediatrichypertension is associated with cardiovascular target organ damage, which in turn is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in adulthood.2 Reversal of cardiac target organ damage has been demonstrated with antihypertensive therapy inadultsandchildren,3 and lower left ventricular mass in adults is associated with reduced CVD.4Pediatrichypertensiondemonstrates trackinginto adulthood.5 Despite these risks and outcomes, pediatric hypertension frequently remains unidentified.6.