The number of children hospitalized with high blood pressure is
climbing. That's according to a new study in the American Heart Association
journal, Hypertension.
Researchers found in 1997, more than 12,600
kids were hospitalized with high blood pressure. That number nearly doubled
by 2006.
The researchers looked at hospital discharge data for the
study. They included all children aged 2 to 18 who were treated for
hypertension, regardless of the main reason for their hospitalization.
Researchers found that those most likely to have high blood pressure were
older than nine, male and African-American.
Researchers say childhood obesity may
play a role in the sharp increase in hospitalizations.
