High blood pressure, once considered primarily an adult problem, is becoming increasingly visible in childhood.
A new analysis published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health reports that hypertension in people under 19 has climbed sharply over the past two decades.
The research team, led by scientists from the University of Edinburgh and Zhejiang University, reviewed data from 96 population studies involving more than 443,000 children.
According to the report, the share of young people living with hypertension more than doubled between 2000 and 2020.
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The authors estimate that over 100 million children worldwide may now be affected.
Professor Igor Rudan, one of the study’s senior contributors, said the findings should prompt health systems to take pediatric blood pressure “far more seriously than before".
Misclassification of the numbers
One of the study’s central observations is that the prevalence of hypertension changes notably depending on how blood pressure is measured.
Clinic-based readings taken over multiple visits tended to show lower rates.
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But when researchers included home or ambulatory monitoring, methods that capture blood pressure throughout daily activities, the estimated prevalence rose.
The paper also highlights two overlooked patterns: some children show elevated readings only at home (often referred to as “masked” hypertension), while others display higher readings only in clinics (“white-coat” hypertension).
Both conditions can lead to misclassification if testing relies on a single approach.
Obesity and early warning signs
The researchers identified obesity as one of the strongest predictors of elevated blood pressure.
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Children with obesity were far more likely to develop hypertension than peers in a healthy weight range.
The study also found that a substantial group of adolescents fall into a “prehypertensive” range, where readings are above normal but not yet diagnostic.
In a comment accompanying the study, Dr. Rahul Chanchlani of McMaster University argued that early detection, broader monitoring options, and clearer diagnostic standards are essential to prevent long-term cardiovascular risks.
Sources: Medicalxpress, and The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.