Objective: To determine the frequency of hypertension in children aged 7-15 years with positive family history of hypertension.
Methodology: This cross sectional study was done at the Department of Pediatrics, civil hospital, Karachi, from February 2021 to August 2021. A total of 175 children aged 7-15 years with positive family history of hypertension for at least 1 year were included in the study. Height and weight were noted. Blood pressure was measured three times with an interval of 10 min of rest and an average of all 3 readings was recorded. Hypertension was considered positive if both systolic and diastolic BP values at rest ≥ 95th percentile according to sex, age, and height as per US normative BP tables.
Results: Out of 175 subjects, 101 (57.7%) were male. Mean age was 10.59±2.58 years. Individually, 34 (19.4%) fathers were hypertensive, and 21 (12.0%) mothers were hypertensive while both father and mother were hypertensive in 120 (68.6%) patients. Headache was observed in 100 (57.1%), nausea in 125 (71.4%) and vomiting in 100 (57.1%) subjects. Hypertension was observed in 20 (11.4%) children.
Conclusion: Hypertension in children of age 7-15 years was more prevalent among children with both hypertensive parents. The children belonging to hypertensive families should be targeted for primary prevention by blood pressure monitoring.
Key words: Hypertension, children, family history, nausea, vomiting.
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