Elevated Blood Pressure Levels in Adolescents, Evans County, Georgia

In a group of 435 adolescents of the Evans County Epidemiologic Study, 11% had hypertension (≥140 and/ or ≥90 mm Hg) in 1961, after seven years, 30 of this group were reevaluated and the most impressive associated finding was overweight and subsequent weight gain in eventual sustained hypertensives.

Abstract

Hypertension in adolescents is still a debatable subject in regard to prognosis. Conclusions on the significance of "prehypertension" have been divided and no long-term follow-up has been reported in a representative population. In a group of 435 adolescents of the Evans County Epidemiologic Study, 11% had hypertension (≥140 and/ or ≥90 mm Hg) in 1961. After seven years, 30 of this group were reevaluated. Two deaths from cerebral hemorrhage occurred. One patient has hypertensive heart disease; sustained hypertension with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular symptoms developed in three more. Five were found to have asymptomatic sustained hypertension. Seven more had hypertension not reaching levels of sustained hypertension (≥160 and/or ≥95 mm Hg). Twelve have become normotensive. The most impressive associated finding was overweight and subsequent weight gain in eventual sustained hypertensives.