Etiology and Clinical Spectrum of Hypertension in Children – An Experience at Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad

Abstract

Objective: To find out the causes and presenting features of hypertension in children presenting to paediatric department, Ayub teaching hospital.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Ayub teaching hospital, Abbottabad from July, 2019 to June, 2020.

Materials and Methods: Children of either sex diagnosed case of hypertension taking BP of more than 95^th percentile for age, sex and height, 1 to 16 years were included. Patients with syndrome features, transient hypertension, taking drugs were excluded. Data was documented on specific proforma including age, sex, weight, systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP, presenting features and diagnosis. Data was analyzed using SPSS 20.

Results: There were 103 patients, 62 (60.2%) male and 41 (39.8%) females. Mean age was 9.19 ± 3.23 years. Most (92.2%) of the patients were above 5 years. Mean systolic BP was 145.24 ± 17.02 mm Hg and mean diastolic BP was 98.54 ± 14.17 mm Hg. The most common diagnosis was acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) in 54.4% and chronic kidney disease (CKD) 35.9% cases. The most common clinical feature on presentation was seizures in 36.9% and headache 27.2% patients.

Conclusion: The most common pathology of hypertension in children is renal involvement and most of patients presented with seizures and headache.