Study: Children with hypertension rising

International

CHILDHOOD high blood pressure is on the rise, and the numbers are doubling.

In just two decades, more kids around the world are developing hypertension, a condition once thought to mainly affect adults, raising concerns about long-term heart health.

In a CNN report, Dr. Peige Song, researcher at Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China and one of the study’s authors said, “In 2000, about 3.4% of boys and 3% of girls had hypertension. By 2020, those numbers had risen to 6.5% and 5.8% respectively,”. The findings were published Wednesday in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health.

High blood pressure in childhood can have lasting consequences. Dr. Mingyu Zhang, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, noted that children with hypertension are at higher risk of developing heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

Factors driving the rise include childhood obesity, diets high in sodium and ultraprocessed foods, poor sleep, stress, genetics, and increasingly sedentary lifestyles.

Song emphasized that early screening, detection, and prevention strategies focusing on healthy weight and nutrition can reduce risks before complications arise.

Environmental exposures may also contribute. Zhang highlighted prior research linking prenatal exposure to PFAS—synthetic “forever chemicals” associated with cancer, endocrine disorders, and developmental issues—to higher rates of childhood hypertension.

Experts stress that families should approach prevention positively. Pediatric dietitian Jill Castle advises encouraging flexible, nutritious diets while still allowing minimally nutritious foods, and prioritizing family meals without labeling foods as “good” or “bad.”

She said these approaches help children develop self-trust and a healthy relationship with food as they grow.

The study analyzed 96 studies from 21 countries and also highlighted “masked hypertension,” where children’s blood pressure appears normal at home but elevated in a doctor’s office, or vice versa.

Masked hypertension was the most common type found, meaning many children with true hypertension could go undetected if only office readings are used.

Song said the findings emphasize the need for broader, scalable monitoring strategies to detect and manage hypertension in children worldwide.(MyTVCebu)