Hypertension prevalence in Korean adolescents according to parental hypertension: data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey

Abstract

The prevalence of hypertension among children and adolescents has risen to 4% globally in recent decades, presenting a significant public health challenge due to its association with increased cardiovascular risks. Existing research on the transmission of hypertension risk between parents and offspring lacks comprehensive data from general population-based samples with clinically collected measurements spanning generations. This study utilized nationally representative data to assess the risk of developing hypertension in offspring based on parental hypertension status, employing standardized blood pressure measurements rather than relying solely on historical data. A positive correlation exists between the increasing number of hypertensive parents and the risk of hypertension development in offspring. The prevalence of hypertension among individuals aged 10 to 18 years did not substantially increase with age. Adolescents whose parents were affected by hypertension exhibited a 2-fold greater prevalence of hypertension compared to the general population with the same age, with approximately a quarter of boys with both hypertensive parents having hypertension. Among nonobese individuals, the risk of hypertension associated with parental hypertension was comparable to that observed in obese subjects. Blood pressure monitoring from the early stage of life would benefit adolescents with hypertensive parents.