Essential hypertension in children--risk factors and target organ damage]

Regarding that systemic hypertension is an important condition in childhood, we try to clarify existing data about this pathology.The aim of our study was to evaluate the incident cases of essential hypertension in children admitted during a four years period in the Children Hospital "Sf. Maria" Iaşi, Romania. The study included 60 children with essential hypertension.10 (16,7%) of children were in prehypertension group, 38 (63,3%) have stage 1 hypertension and 12 (20%) have stage 2 hypertension. We objectivate a different gender distribution - boy/girl: 1,5/1. The frequency of essential hypertension increased with age, the incidence was higher over 14 years. We established a statistically significant relationship between the essential hypertension body mass index and prematurity (gestation age under 37 weeks). Left ventricular hypertrophy was objectivated in 26,7% of cases.Essential hypertension in children is a pathology with increasing prevalence nowadays. This is due to synergic action of multiple risk factors involved. That is why is important to know and to prevent as much as possible this disease.