Hypertension in pediatric ages

Abstract

Introduction: systemic high blood pressure in the child consists of the rise of systolic and / or diastolic blood pressure figures above the 95 percentile for age and sex in at least three folds with an interval of six months. Objective: to characterize hypertension in children and adolescents treated at Mártires del 9 de Abril Pediatric Hospital in Sagua la Grande, between January 2013 and January 2017. Method: an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in pediatric patients with blood hypertension at Mártires del 9 de Abril Pediatric Hospital in Sagua la Grande during the period between January 2013 and January 2017. The sample was chosen through intentional non-probabilistic sampling, it was constituted by 52 children and adolescents who met the inclusion criteria. To process the data, theoretical, empirical and statistical methods were used. Results: male sex predominated (65,4 %) and the age group from 15 to 19 years old (51,9 %). Obesity was the most frequent cardiovascular risk factor (53,8 %). Primary blood hypertension predominated (92,3 %). Headache was the main clinical manifestation (88,5 %). Conclusions: hypertension in childhood predominates in obese male adolescents. Health actions should be directed towards prevention, modifying conducts and lifestyles in this vulnerable sector of the population

Keywords

• hipertensión
• presión sanguínea
• pediatría
• factores de riesgo
• hypertension
• blood pressure
• pediatrics
• risk factors