Blood pressure chart by age and height
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Blood Pressure Chart by Age and Height
Introduction to Blood Pressure Norms in Children and Adolescents
Blood pressure (BP) norms for children and adolescents are crucial for early detection and management of hypertension. These norms are often adjusted for age, sex, and height to provide a more accurate assessment. Height, in particular, is a significant factor as it correlates with body size and maturation more directly than weight.
Blood Pressure Norms by Age and Height in Children
U.S. Normative Data
In the United States, normative BP levels for children aged 1 to 17 years have been developed by accounting for age, sex, and height. This comprehensive analysis included data from over 56,000 children and provided age-sex-height-specific values for systolic and diastolic BP. The findings indicated that shorter children are more likely to be classified as hypertensive when height is considered, compared to using age-sex-specific percentiles alone.
Portuguese and German Studies
Similar studies in Portugal and Germany have also developed BP reference tables for children and adolescents. The Portuguese study, which included over 15,000 children, found that the 95th percentiles of systolic BP were higher compared to U.S. reference values, particularly for children up to 16 years old. In Germany, BP percentiles were derived from non-overweight children to avoid the influence of overweight prevalence. These percentiles were generally lower than U.S. references, highlighting the need for region-specific BP charts.
Simplified BP Tables
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended simplified BP tables for screening purposes. These tables, based on the fifth height percentile, aim to improve the efficiency of BP screening in clinical and school settings. The simplified tables showed high positive predictive value (PPV) and specificity, making them suitable for non-specialist use.
Blood Pressure Norms in Adults
Age and BMI Correlation
For adults, BP percentiles are often established based on age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). A study involving over 8,000 adults found that BP increases with age and BMI, but shows a negative correlation with height. This indicates that taller individuals tend to have lower BP compared to shorter individuals of the same age and BMI.
International Comparisons
Global BP References
An international effort to establish unified BP references for children and adolescents included data from seven countries. These references allow for better international comparisons and help identify hypertensive youths across diverse populations. The study found that systolic BP values were generally lower in the international references compared to U.S. values, while diastolic BP values were similar.
Chinese Reference Values
In China, BP reference values for non-overweight children aged 7 to 17 years were developed. These values were generally lower than existing Chinese recommendations and U.S. reference values, particularly for systolic BP. This underscores the importance of region-specific BP norms.
Conclusion
Blood pressure norms for children and adolescents vary significantly by age, height, and region. Height-specific BP charts provide a more accurate assessment of hypertension risk in children. Simplified BP tables and international references further enhance the ability to screen and manage elevated BP in diverse populations. Understanding these variations is crucial for effective hypertension prevention and management strategies.
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