Indore: Primary hypertension in children was once considered a rarity but it has emerged as an important public health problem across the world. According to experts, the prevalence of hypertension in children is high in India as compared to developed countries like USA where prevalence of elevated BP was found to be 2.7-3.7 per cent. A recent study conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-led by renowned cardiologists of city stated that the percentage of hypertension in Indore children is 6-8 per cent. According to Dr Anil Bharani, the recently concluded ICMR study covered around 11,312 school children in the age 5 to 15 years.
Students of government and private schools were taken for the study and their blood pressures were measured. “We found in the study that about 6-8 per cent children are suffering from hypertension. In terms of gender, both boys and girls are almost equal in number,” Dr Bharani said while addressing a press conference here on the eve of World Hypertension Day. There are multiple reasons for hypertension of pre-hypertension among people, including genetic but inactive lifestyle and intake of junk food is the main reason behind it, Dr Bharani said. “People should start walking at least for 30 minutes in a day and teach the same habit to their children. Children suffering from hypertension don’t require medication but change in lifestyle,” he said. Every third youngster is suffering from hypertension Meanwhile, cardiac surgeon Dr Manish Porwal and Dr Nitin Modi emphasised on increasing disease in youngsters.
As per the study conducted by a private medical college in Indore, around 12 per cent adult population is suffering from hypertension. “The number of patients suffering from hypertension is doubled in last two decades and the average age of the patients in shifting towards younger side. Moreover, we can say that every third person in 25 years of age is suffering from hypertension,” Dr Porwal said.
