A new study has shown that high blood pressure can impact individuals at any age, not just in later life. Researchers found that monitoring a child’s blood pressure at approximately seven years old could predict their risk of dying from heart disease by their mid-50s.
The study, presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions and published in the JAMA journal, revealed that children with elevated blood pressure faced a 40% to 50% higher likelihood of death over the next five decades. Lead researcher Dr. Alexa Freedman emphasized the importance of early blood pressure screening to promote cardiovascular health from childhood.
This research, tracking 38,000 children whose blood pressure was measured at age seven, found that those with higher blood pressure levels were more susceptible to premature cardiovascular death later in life. Even moderate blood pressure elevations within the normal range increased the risk of early cardiovascular mortality by 13% to 18%.
The study considered various factors that could affect cardiovascular risk, focusing solely on the impact of blood pressure rather than childhood obesity. Although the study had limitations, including a single blood pressure measurement at age seven for each child, the results highlighted the long-term implications of childhood blood pressure levels on cardiovascular health.
Previous studies have also highlighted the link between high blood pressure in childhood and a heightened risk of heart disease in adulthood. However, it is important to note that the findings of this study are preliminary and have not yet undergone peer review.