Experts Sound Alarm Over Rising Cases Of Hypertension In Teenagers

Researchers have raised alarm over rising cases of hypertension in teenagers and adolescents especially those in secondary schools across the nation.

In fact, several studies concluded that the prevalence of hypertension in Nigerian children is high and appears to be increasing and there is a need for routine Blood Pressure (BP) and urinalysis checks for all children in especially those in clinics and wards.

Indeed, studies suggest a high prevalence of elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents in Africa, with overweight and obesity being an important risk factor.

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They say efforts to address this burden of elevated blood pressure in children and adolescents should mainly focus on primary prevention at the community level, by promoting healthy lifestyles and avoiding other cardiovascular risk factors, especially overweight and obesity.

According to a study published in the journal The Lancet Public Health and titled “Prevalence of elevated blood pressure in children and adolescents in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis”, hypertension in children and adolescents is becoming a major concern, not only because of its rising prevalence but also because of evidence suggesting that hypertension tracks from childhood to adulthood. Almost half of adults with hypertension had elevated blood pressure values during childhood.

Furthermore, several studies have suggested that elevated blood pressure in childhood correlates with carotid intima-media thickness, atherosclerosis, left ventricular hypertrophy, and kidney failure in adulthood.

Consequently, the study recommended early diagnosis and control of hypertension in childhood are likely to have an important effect on long-term outcomes of hypertension-related cardiovascular complications.

A recent study published in European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences concluded:

“There is a noteworthy prevalence of hypertension among adolescent public secondary school students in Nnewi.

This was significantly higher among the female gender, lower socioeconomic level and students with minimal physical activity.

Waist circumference in the obese/overweight category very likely predicts hypertension.”

The study titled “Blood Pressure Profiles And Determinants Of Hypertension Among Public Secondary School Students In Nnewi, Southeast Nigeria” was conducted by Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State.

According to the researchers, hypertension and associated factors among adolescents have not been given the deserved attention in health care, more so as hypertensive children end up as hypertensive adults with serious co-morbidities. This is even more expedient among public school students, who in our environment are generally of lower socioeconomic status than those in private schools.

The researchers set out to determine the Blood Pressure (BP) profiles and association of obesity indicators, socioeconomic level and physical activity with hypertension among public secondary school students.

A cross-sectional school-based assessment of blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), weight to height ratio (WHR), waist circumference (WC), physical activity and socioeconomic level among 593 students aged 10 – 17 years in public schools in Nnewi, Southeast Nigeria was carried out.

The results of the study showed the mean systolic BP increased with age and was higher for girls than for boys.

“The prevalence of systolic hypertension and prehypertension was 8.4 percent and 6.6 percent respectively, while that of diastolic hypertension and prehypertension were 5.7 percent and 11.8 percent respectively.

Both systolic and diastolic hypertension occurred in 2.4 per cent of students. Girls had a higher prevalence of hypertension – both systolic and diastolic.

There was no significant gender difference in the prevalence of systolic hypertension and prehypertension between early and late adolescents.

Early adolescent males were more likely to have diastolic hypertension and prehypertension compared to late adolescent males, while no difference in prevalence was noted among the females.

Systolic hypertension was more evident in the lower socioeconomic level, those with minimal physical activity, and those in the obese/overweight categories of BMI, WC, and WHR,”

the researchers noted.

Source: TheGuardian