1.Prevalence and Factors Associated with Hypertension in Children Admitted at Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
Oulaivanh Vongxay ; Suwannee Wisanuyotin ; Sourideth Sengchanh ; Mick Soukavong
Lao Medical Journal 2023;14(14):93-100
Background: :
Hypertension (HTN) is becoming an increasingly recognized health problem and a major problem in low-and middle-income countries. The obesity epidemic has seen increasing diagnoses of hypertension in children, who are more likely to go on to have hypertension as adults. For all patients, the goal of identifying and treating hypertension is to prevent end-organ damage and reduce mortality.
Methods: :
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 309 inpatients aged 1-15 years who were screened for hypertension during their admission from July 1st, 2021 to Jan 31st, 2022. The study used a multistage sampling method and face-to-face interviews with children and caregivers. The questionnaire was developed and pre-tested before data collection commenced. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were carried out to identify risk factors associated with hypertension.
Results: :
Among 309 children screened for hypertension during admission, the prevalence of hypertension was 12.6 %. Hypertension was most frequently identified among 6 to 10-year-olds (39.0%). High blood pressure was more frequent in males (56.1 %) than females (43.9 %). The factors associated with high blood pressure included overweight/obesity (P<.001) and underlying renal disease (P< 0.05). The most common cause was secondary hypertension 84.6% (Sepsis-induced AKI 36.4%, Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis 21.2%, SLE with nephritis 12.1%). The most common symptoms were headache (65.8% in HTN stage II, 29.0% in HTN stage I), nausea (64.7% in HTN stage II, 32.4% in HTN stage I) and vomiting (58.6% in HTN stage II and 38.0% in HTN stage I). Seizures and coma only occurred in HTN stage II. For the treatment of hypertension, calcium channel blockers were used in the majority (56.4%). The mortality rate in our study was 10.3%.
Conclusion:
There was a high prevalence of hypertension among admitted children in our study, with the highest number aged 6 to 10 years and associations with overweight/obesity and underlying renal disease. Most cases were secondary HTN and mortality among this specific population was high and warrants exploration of underlying reasons. In addition, understanding how to use the identification of HTN during admission to provide preventative interventions would seem critical.

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