Hypertension in Children
We usually associate hypertension only among the adult population and we are surprised to hear that a child is hypertensive.
Now that there is an increasing body weight among the pediatric age group, hypertension is already common and also some diseases will cause hypertension.
In today’s issue, I will be sharing with you the lecture of Dr. Dolores D. Bonzon, a pediatric nephrologist, during the 62nd Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) annual convention last April 2025 in Manila. She talked on the topic “Normative BP values in Filipino Children”.
Dr. Bonzon said that hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide and that the number of people living with hypertension has doubled to 1.28 billion since 1990.
Among the pediatric population, the prevalence increased from 1994-2018 and is associated with increasing body mass index.
It is also noteworthy to know that the risk of adult hypertension is much greater when hypertension is manifested in childhood.
The pediatric nephrologists of the Philippines are trying to come up with a reference of blood pressure among Filipino children because before, we were using the US reference.
So they collaborated with the Department of Science and Technology- Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI).
A study was done by Chona F. Patalen, RND, MPH entitled “Establishing BP norm for Filipino Children 3-17 years old”.
There were 120 survey teams from July- November 2015 and 1 nurse was assigned in each survey team that measured the BP of the children.
The study came up with the conclusion that among Filipino children
* Normal BP – <90th percentile
* Elevated BP >90th percentile to < 99th percentile
* Hypertension is > 99th percentile
To translate this to readings of the blood pressure among Filipino children
* Normal BP – 110/<74 mmhg
* Elevated BP is 110-<120/74-<80 mmhg
* Hypertension > or equal to 120/ > or equal to 80 mmhg
Dr. Bonzon emphasized that BP cut off will be useful in identifying and providing appropriate treatment to children and adolescence with hypertension to minimize long-term health consequences.