Pediatric and Adolescent Hypertension: A Multidisciplinary Call to Action

Abstract

Heightened awareness and the rising prevalence of hypertension in children and adolescents has brought pediatric hypertension to the forefront of pediatric primary care. It has also made clear the need for public health programs and evidence-based lifestyle interventions to effectively prevent and manage this condition in youth. However, given that the ultimate aim of such efforts is to reduce rates of adult cardiovascular disease, how to best measure their success during childhood is unclear. In this perspective, we describe current challenges and gaps in research related to this dilemma while highlighting the need for multidisciplinary collaboration between pediatric primary care providers, researchers, public health practitioners, and hypertension experts to move toward effective prevention and management of this condition.