Childhood Hypertension: An Observational Study from a Tertiary Care Centre, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood hypertension is an underestimated problem in India and other developing countries and it often reported in adults. Hypertensive children, although usually asymptomatic, already manifest evidence of target organ damage. Many of hypertensive children have left ventricular hypertrophy and increased carotid intima-media thickness, a marker of early atherosclerosis. Hypertensive children are very prone to develop target organ damage like retinopathy, renal damage, cardiac complications if remains undiagnosed and untreated for long. Other risk factors like cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia must also be looked for in hypertensive children. Aim: To study the prevalence, clinical profile, aetiology of hypertension and to analyse various management protocol, complications, and early outcomes of hypertension in hospitalised children aged between 5-10 years. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, observational analytical study conducted in the Department of Paediatrics of a tertiary care centre at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, from 1st October 2017 to 30th September 2019. Blood pressure was measured by mercury sphygmomanometer using auscultatory method in all admitted patients in Paediatrics Department between the age of 5-10 years as a part of vital monitoring. A total of 103 patients having average systolic blood pressure and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 95th percentile for that age, sex and height on three or more occasions were included in the study and their comprehensive details were recorded in prestructured proforma. The outcome was recorded as data in excel sheet and arranged in tables. Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 0.96%. The mean age of the study population was 8 years, and the male:female ratio was 1.09:1. Vomiting was the most common presenting complaint followed by fever and puffiness of eyes. A higher incidence of fever on presentation was due to the associated infective pathology of Central Nervous System (CNS). Pallor was the most common finding on general examination. Neurological deficit was observed in patients with hypertensive encephalopathy and stroke. Overall, 21 (20.38%) patients were in stage 2 hypertension, accounting to hypertensive emergencies, 48 (46.6%) patients with hypertension had an underlying renal disorder, followed by CNS disorder in 47 (45.6%). Amlodipine (26.21%) was the most common drug used in hypertensive patients. Most common complication of the present study was hypertensive retinopathy seen in 14 patients (13.59%). Conclusion: In hospitalised patients, the prevalence of hypertension was 0.96% with a male preponderance. On admission, the most prevalent complaints were vomiting and fever. Pallor and puffiness of eyes were the most common general examination findings, and ascites was the most common systemic examination result. The most common secondary cause of hypertension was renal disease, with acute glomerulonephritis as most prevalent.

Keywords

• elevated blood pressure
• glomerulonephritis
• paediatrics
• renal disorder