Cardiovascular sequelae of childhood hypertension

Blood pressure (BP) elevation is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adults. More recently, it has been established through autopsy studies and studies using noninvasive imaging techniques that BP elevation is also a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis in childhood and adolescence. Hypertension is a powerful risk factor for left ventricular hypertrophy and for congestive heart failure in adults. It is now clear that BP elevation is also associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in children and adolescents. If cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality are to be prevented, then children with elevated BP must be identified and appropriately treated.