Adolescents with high BP at risk for organ damage

Organ damage from high BP can affect adolescents, not just adults, and damage can occur at BP levels below the clinical definition of hypertension in adolescents, according to findings presented at the American Heart Association Council on Hypertension, AHA Council on Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease, American Society of Hypertension Joint Scientific Sessions.

In adolescents, high BP is categorized by placement in the 95th percentile.

Elaine M. Urbina, MD, MS, director of preventive cardiology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and colleagues evaluated 180 adolescents aged 14 to 17 years (64% white; 57% boys).

Participants were classified as normal (BP < 80th percentile), mid-risk (80th to < 90th percentile) or high-risk ( 90th percentile). Mean BP increased across all groups (normal, 109/74 mm Hg; mid-risk, 126/82 mm Hg; high-risk 135/87 mm Hg).

Left ventricular mass and pulse wave velocity also increased across the groups.

After adjustment for demographics, age, BMI and heart rate, systolic BP percentile remained a significant determinant of total organ damage (P .0001).

However, left ventricular hypertrophy was observed in participants in the 80th percentile and up to 8% of cases were missed in this group. Among those in the less than 95^th percentile, 16% had LV hypertrophy.

“Some adolescents may have organ damage related to blood pressure and are not targeted for therapy,” Urbina said in a press release. “Imaging of the heart may be useful in youth in the high-normal range of blood pressure to determine how aggressive therapy should be.” – by Cassie Homer

Reference:

Urbina EM, et al. Abstract 150. Presented at: AHA Council on Hypertension, AHA Council on Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease, American Society of Hypertension Joint Scientific Sessions; Sept. 14-17, 2017; San Francisco.

Disclosures: Urbina and four other authors report they receive grants from the AHA.