CONGRESS COVERAGE: Obese Children have a Quadrupled Risk of Becoming Hypertensive Adults in Comparison to Children with Normal Weight

A few days ago (Sept 12, 2013) the results of a large prospective study that included 1,117 healthy children who were followed up for 27 years were presented in the American Heart Association (AHA) High Blood Pressure Research Scientific Sessions in New Orleans [1]. The aim was to record the development of obesity in childhood and to investigate the incidence of arterial hypertension (HTN) in adults that were obese or overweight children [1]. The original cohort was established in 1986, and consisted of 1,117 healthy children (47% male), recruited from schools in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA (mean age 12 years). During follow-up, blood pressure (BP), height, and weight were measured twice a year. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from height and weight; weight status was determined by age and sexadjusted BMI percentile values (BMI %). Subjects were classified as normal weight, overweight (BMI% 85% and < 95%), or obese (BMI% 95%) of BMI distribution of the entire cohort [1]. The above revealed that 765 (68%) had normal weight, 176 (16%) were overweight, and 176 (16%) were obese [1]. The rate of adult HTN was higher for those classified as overweight or obese as children (14% and 26% respectively, p = <0.0001). Children classified as overweight or obese had double and quadruple the risk of having HTN in adulthood, respectively, as compared to normal weight children [odds ratio (OR) = 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3 to 3.6, OR = 4.4; 95% CI = 2.8 to 6.9, respectively] [1]. It has also been shown that children who had one or more high BP readings are 3 times more likely to develop HTN as adults. Using the same pool of Indianapolis kids, researchers found that the rate of high BP during adulthood was 8.6% for children who didn't have a high BP reading when they were young. That rate jumped to 18% for adults who had at least 1 high reading as a kid, and 35% for adults who had 2 or more high readings as children [1]. This study highlights the need for pediatricians to regularly check BP