The prevalence of adolescent hypertension in Hungary - The Debrecen Hypertension Study

• Published in: Blood pressure Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 134 - 139
• Main Authors: Katona, Éva, Zrínyi, Miklós, Lengyel, Szabolcs, Komonyi, Éva, Paragh, György, Zatik, János, Nagy, Géza, Fülesdi, Béla, Páll, Dénes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare 01.06.2011; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adolescence; Adolescent; Blood Pressure - physiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diastole; epidemiology and prevention; Female; Humans; Hungary - epidemiology; hypertension; Hypertension - diagnosis; Hypertension - epidemiology; Hypertension - physiopathology; Male; population-based; Prevalence; screening; Sentinel Surveillance; Systole; Hungary
• ISSN: 0803-7051; 1651-1999
• DOI: 10.3109/08037051.2010.538987

Abstract Background. The aim of this study was to obtain epidemiological data and to determine the prevalence of adolescent hypertension implementing a blood pressure (BP) screening. Methods. We performed a cross-sectional, population-based survey in a major Hungarian city (Debrecen, population 230,000). After a 10-min resting period, three consecutive BP measurements were taken. Results. Complete records were obtained for 10,194 subjects (5163 boys and 5031 girls). The mean age was 16.6±1.0 years. BP for boys was higher than for girls (ΔBPsyst=11 mmHg; ΔBPdiast=2 mmHg, p<0.001). A significant decrease was observed in BP during the three consecutive measurements (time 1-3: ΔBPsyst=4 mmHg; ΔBPdiast=2.5 mmHg; p<0.001). Systolic and/or diastolic BP exceeded the age-, gender- and height-adjusted 90th percentile in 1614 (15.84%) adolescents. Following two lots of three extra measurements on 1461 subjects of this sub-sample, hypertension (systolic and/or diastolic BP exceeded the 95th percentile) was confirmed in 2.12% of the subjects (male: 2.27%, female: 1.97%). Considering there were individuals either already diagnosed with hypertension (n=19) or refusing further participation, the prevalence of hypertension was 2.53% in adolescents in the age range 15-18 years. Conclusion. Our population-based study was the first to determine the point-prevalence of adolescent hypertension in Central-Eastern Europe. Identifying and following-up cases of confirmed hypertension is inevitable to prevent or delay the manifestations of target organ damage and reduce hypertension-related mortality.