Abstract

ITURZAETA, Adriana et al. Prevalence of masked hypertension among children with risk factors for arterial hypertension. Arch. argent. pediatr. [online]. 2018, vol.116, n.5, pp.328-332. ISSN 0325-0075.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5546/aap.2018.328.

Introduction. Masked hypertension (MH) in children is defined as normal office blood pressure values and high values outside the clinical setting. The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is helpful for diagnosis. There is little information on MH prevalence in our population. Objective. To estimate the prevalence of MH in children with risk factors for arterial hypertension. Material and method. Prospective, observational, cross-sectional study. Patients seen at Hospital General de Niños "P. de Elizalde" between July 1st, 2015 and December 1st, 2016, aged 5-11 years, with normal blood pressure and at least one risk factor for arterial hypertension were included in consecutive order. A 24-hour ABPM was done (SpaceLabs 90207/90217). Estimated sample: 110 patients. All relevant authorizations were obtained. Results. One hundred and ten patients aged 8.7 ± 1.8 years were included; 60 were girls. ABPM duration: 23.18 ± 1.8 hours. Twenty-three patients had neonatal history; all had at least one factor corresponding to personal history (the most common ones were increased salt intake and obesity); 101 had at least one factor corresponding to family history. ABPM helped to identify 10 patients with MH (9.1%; 95% confidence interval |-1;CI|-3;: 5.1-15.9); 7 had isolated nocturnal hypertension (6.4%; 95% CI: 3.1-23.5) and 28 had prehypertension (25.4%; 95% CI: 18.234.3). Among the 10 patients with MH, 7 were boys, 9 were obese and had at least one factor corresponding to family history. Conclusion. The prevalence of MH in children with risk factors for arterial hypertension was close to 10%.

Keywords : Masked hypertension; Hypertension; Risk factors; Pediatrics.

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