Cochrane in context: Pharmacological interventions for hypertension in children

Background Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke, coronary artery disease and kidney damage in adults. There is a paucity of data on the long-term sequelae of persistent hypertension in children, but it is known that children with hypertension have evidence of end-organ damage and are at risk of hypertension into adulthood. The prevalence of hypertension in children is increasing, most likely owing to a concurrent rise in obesity. In children with hypertension, nonpharmacological measures are often recommended as first-line therapy, but a significant proportion of children will eventually require pharmacological treatment to reduce blood pressure, especially those with evidence of end-organ damage at presentation or during follow-up. A systematic review of the effects of antihypertensive agents in children has not previously been conducted.