Epidemiology of arterial hypertension (hypertension)

Blood pressure, like other indicators, increases with the child's age. It increases most rapidly in infancy (by 1 mm Hg per month). In children from 1 to 5 years of age, blood pressure remains virtually unchanged, and increases again from the age of 6 until puberty. SBP values increase more rapidly. From birth to 20 years, this indicator increases by an average of 2 mm Hg per year in boys, and by 1 mm Hg per year in girls. DBP increases to a lesser extent - by an average of 0.5 mm Hg per year. In adolescence (13-17 years), DBP remains virtually unchanged.

At the age of 10-13 years, SBP is higher in girls, after 13 years - in boys. In one age group, the highest blood pressure is observed in menstruating girls. Blood pressure standards depend on national characteristics and climatic zones. Blood pressure values are somewhat higher in children living in the southern regions compared to children in the northern regions. However, taking into account the timing of puberty in different climatic and geographical zones, blood pressure levels are close.

The results of population studies of the population over 15 years old showed that 42 million people suffer from arterial hypertension, while every year another 5 million patients are identified, of which only half of the patients receive any treatment. and adequate treatment only 20% of patients. It is extremely alarming that in Ukraine the mortality rates from diseases of the circulatory system in working age are 3-5 times higher than similar rates in other economically developed countries, while there is a tendency for mortality rates to increase.

It should be emphasized that the most significant increase in mortality is observed in the age group from 20 to 29 years.

According to research data, the number of children with high blood pressure increased by 6.8% by 2001, amounting to 335.6 thousand people, and this growth is currently continuing. Recently, a number of epidemiological studies have been conducted devoted to determining the level of blood pressure. The results of these studies have revealed a high prevalence of arterial hypertension among children and adolescents, the frequency of which varies widely - from 2.4 to 18% of those examined.

In children aged 1 year, arterial hypertension is almost never encountered, with the exception of symptomatic hypertension associated with renal vein thrombosis, coarctation of the aorta, or adrenal diseases. Arterial hypertension in children aged 1 year is identified only by the level of systolic blood pressure, using the criteria for arterial hypertension in infants recommended by experts of the working group of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, USA.

Criteria for arterial hypertension in infants

Age	95th percentile	99th percentile
From birth to 7 days	96 mmHg	106 mm Hg
8-30 days	104 mm Hg	110 mmHg
1 month - 1 year	112 mmHg	118 mm Hg

In preschool age, primary arterial hypertension is almost never encountered, and the increase in arterial pressure is secondary, symptomatic, which is why timely diagnosis of the disease that caused the increase in arterial pressure is necessary. There are no epidemiological data on the prevalence of arterial hypertension in early and preschool age. However, a number of Western researchers have proposed cutoff points for arterial pressure corresponding to the 95th and 99th percentiles in children of early and preschool age. Arterial pressure levels exceeding these values should be assessed as arterial hypertension.

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