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Pediatricians often fail to check BP of younger children
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Despite recommendations from the AAP that yearly blood pressure screenings should start at age 3 years, clinicians are still not taking these measurements in as many as one-third of preventive visits, according to study findings published online.
Anisha I. Patel, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco, and other researchers reported data from two annual government surveys of doctors’ practices and EDs, which included information from 2000 to 2009.
The researchers reported that although the percentage of pediatricians taking BP during routine pediatric checks has improved, from 51% to 71%, screening rates should be higher.
“Hypertension screening occurred during 35% of ambulatory pediatric visits, 67% of preventive visits, and 84% of preventive visits in which overweight/obesity was diagnosed,” Patel and colleagues wrote.
The rate of hypertension screening was especially low for children aged 3 to 7 years, according to the study findings.
The researchers said although pediatricians seem to understand the importance of screening, “efforts to encourage routine screening, particularly in young children, may be needed.”
Disclosure: Patel reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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