Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment of Systemic Hypertension in Youth

Hypertension occurs in a small percentage of children. The 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics evidence-based clinical practice guideline provides a definition of pediatric hypertension, recommendations for evaluation, and treatment recommendations. For younger children, persistent blood pressure above the 95th percentile is considered hypertension; in adolescence, thresholds identical for adults are used. Initial treatment uses lifestyle intervention, if this fails, pharmacologic management is recommended, particularly if target organ injury is detected or other cardiovascular risk factors are present.