Clinico-aetiological profile of hypertension in children aged 3-12 years: A cross-sectional study from Eastern India

Vollständiger Abstract

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Introduction: Childhood hypertension leads to increased morbidity, precedes adult hypertension, and causes end-organ damage. Studies are lacking from Eastern India regarding clinical presentation and causes of childhood hypertension.Objectives: To evaluate the clinico-aetiological profile of hypertension in children aged 3-12 yearsMethod: In this prospective observational study, 60 children aged 3-12 years with hypertension were included and categorized as per age of presentation into preschool (3-5 years), school children (6-9 years), and early adolescents (10-12 years). Clinico-aetiological profile was evaluated and compared among the different age subgroups.Results: The mean age of the children was 7.65 + 3.11 years; 96.7% had secondary hypertension. Oedema was the commonest presenting symptom and renal disease was the commonest secondary cause of hypertension. There was an association between focal segmental glomerulosclerosis on renal histopathology and stage 2 hypertension.Conclusions: Secondary hypertension due to renal disease was more prevalent than primary hypertension. Symptoms of an underlying disease, rather than hypertension-specific symptomatology, were the predominant presenting features.