Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 13: A new global analysis published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal has revealed a worrying trend — the prevalence of hypertension, or high blood pressure, among children and teenagers has nearly doubled over the past two decades, rising from 3.2 per cent in 2000 to over six per cent in 2020.

Researchers, including those from the University of Edinburgh, attributed the sharp rise largely to increasing obesity rates among children. The study also noted that nearly one in five obese children worldwide suffers from hypertension — almost eight times higher than those with a healthy weight.

The findings, based on data from 96 studies involving over 4.4 lakh children across 21 countries, highlight a growing global health concern. “The nearly twofold increase in childhood high blood pressure over 20 years should raise alarm bells for healthcare providers and caregivers,” said Igor Rudan, Director of the Centre for Global Health Research at the University of Edinburgh.

The study warns that untreated hypertension in childhood can lead to cardiovascular and kidney diseases later in life. Researchers also found that about eight per cent of children globally may already have pre-hypertension, an early warning sign for developing the condition.

Interestingly, the prevalence of high blood pressure tends to surge during early adolescence, peaking around age 14 — particularly among boys. Experts emphasised the need for regular blood pressure screenings during these formative years.

“Childhood high blood pressure is more common than previously thought, and relying solely on in-office readings likely underestimates its true prevalence,” said Peige Song of Zhejiang University, co-author of the study.

The researchers called for urgent preventive measures, including improved screening, awareness, and early intervention, to curb the rise of hypertension among the young and prevent future health complications.