Document Type : Original research
Authors
Specialist pediatrician at Pediatric hospital in Kirkuk, Iraq.
Abstract
Background: Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, not only in adults but also in the pediatric population. There is a rising prevalence of hypertension in children, driven primarily by the increasing rates of obesity. This study aimed to clarify the etiology of hypertension in children, determine the distribution of age and gender in pediatric hypertension, and identify risk factors associated with hypertension in children.
Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at the pediatric hospital in Kirkuk city and the Baghdad Road polyclinic from January 2021 to January 2022. A total of 260 children aged 1 to 14 years were included in the study. Clinical data, including body mass index (BMI), renal function tests, serum electrolytes, lipid profiles, and serum cortisol for hypertensive patients, were collected. Hypertension diagnosis and classification were based on systolic and diastolic blood pressure percentiles.
Result: Hypertension was identified in 13 (5%) children. Of these, 5 (2%) had primary hypertension, mostly associated with obesity (BMI >30 kg/m²), and 8 (3%) had secondary hypertension, with renal impairment as the most common cause. All hypertensive patients exhibited dyslipidemia. The incidence of hypertension was significantly higher in older age groups (7-10 years and 11-14 years). A significant correlation was found between obesity and hypertension (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Secondary hypertension is more common than primary hypertension in children, with renal impairment being the most frequent cause. Obesity plays a critical role in the development of primary hypertension in children. Early screening and intervention are essential to prevent long-term cardiovascular complications.
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