However, authors warn that stagnation and possible increase in more recent years may indicate reversal of trend<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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TUESDAY, April 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Although mean levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) have declined overall in U.S. children and adolescents during the past 20 years, recent patterns raise concerns about a reversal of this trend, according to a study published online April 1 in JAMA Network Open<\/em>.<\/p>\n Shakia T. Hardy, Ph.D., from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2002 to 2015-2018; 9,117 children aged 8 to 12 years and 10,156 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years) to assess changes in systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) levels among U.S. children during the past 20 years.<\/p>\n The researchers found that among children aged 8 to 12 years, the age-adjusted mean SBP decreased from 102.4 mm Hg in 1999-2002 to 101.5 mm Hg in 2011-2014 and then increased to 102.5 mm Hg in 2015-2018, while age-adjusted mean DBP decreased from 57.2 mm Hg in 1999-2002 to 51.9 mm Hg in 2011-2014 and then increased to 53.2 mm Hg in 2015-2018. Among adolescents aged 13 to 17 years, age-adjusted mean SBP decreased from 109.2 mm Hg in 1999-2002 to 108.4 mm Hg in 2011-2014 and then remained unchanged in 2015-2018, while mean DBP decreased from 62.6 mm Hg in 1999-2002 to 59.6 mm Hg in 2011-2014 and then increased to 60.8 mm Hg in 2015-2018. Compared with normal-weight children, mean SBP and mean DBP were higher in overweight and obese children aged 8 to 12 years. Among adolescents, SBP was higher among boys versus girls and among non-Hispanic Black versus White participants.<\/p>\n “Stable or increased BP levels and hypertension prevalence from 2011-2014 to 2015-2018 could indicate a reversal of these trends,” the authors write.<\/p>\n One author disclosed financial ties to Amgen.<\/p>\n