Factors Associated with Primary Hypertension in Pediatric Patients: An Up-to-Date

Abstract

Background:: Arterial hypertension in children is considered a common alteration nowadays, mainly because obesity is a growing worldwide problem closely related to increased blood pressure. Childhood hypertension can be classified as primary or secondary, depending on the etiology. Primary or essential hypertension still has its pathophysiology not fully elucidated, and there is no consensus in the literature on most underlying mechanisms. In this review, genetic and environmental factors, including sodium and potassium intake, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, family structure, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, prematurity and low birth weight, prenatal and postnatal exposures are highlighted. Objective:: The present study aimed to perform an update on primary hypertension in childhood, providing clinicians and researchers an overview of the current state of the literature regarding the influence of genetic and environmental factors. Methods:: This integrative review searched for articles on genetic and environmental factors related to primary hypertension in pediatric patients. The databases evaluated were PubMed and Scopus. Results:: The studies have provided insights regarding many genetic and environmental factors, in addition to their association with the pathophysiology of primary hypertension in childhood. Findings corroborated the idea that primary hypertension is a multifactorial disease. Further studies in the pediatric population are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Conclusion:: The study of primary hypertension in pediatrics has utmost importance for the adoption of preventive measures and the development of more efficient treatments, therefore reducing childhood morbidity and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and other health consequences later in life.

Cardiovascular risk factors and its patterns of change between 4 and 8 years of age in the INMA-Asturias cohort

“…These findings support the hypothesis that central obesity is a CVD risk factor that triggers other disorders, which usually emerge as comorbidities of central obesity [ 11 , 14 , 17 , 33 ]. Regarding to hypertension, the increasing trend of elevated blood pressure levels in childhood and adolescence in terms of primary hypertension has been mainly related to the also increasing trend of childhood obesity, but also to other factors such as prenatal and postnatal exposures, genetic factors, birth characteristics, dietary habits, or lifestyle factors [ 50 ]. Some of them have been shown to be related to primary hypertension independently of obesity, as evidenced for example by Rosner et al [ 51 ] in the case of high sodium intake.…”

Current Approaches to Arterial Hypertension Management in Children and Adolescents: Clinical Guidelines Review

“…Гиподинамия способствует повышению АД. Дети с недостаточной физической активностью примерно в 3 раза чаще имеют избыток массы тела / ожирение и повышенное АД [28]. Установлено, что регулярная физическая активность приводит к значительному снижению АД не только при офисном измерении, но и при 24-часовом контроле.…”

Accuracy of equations for predicting 24-h urinary potassium excretion from spot urine samples in Chinese children

“…Low-potassium diet has been associated with elevation of blood pressure in children (1)(2)(3) , which poses an increased risk of childhood hypertension and CVD in adulthood (4,5) . Some studies have showed that daily potassium intake in children is commonly less than the recommended levels (6) .…”