Elevated Blood Pressure in Children of Cardiovascular Risk Mothers: Could Maternal Folic Acid Be the Link?

<span class="paragraphSection">High blood pressure in children and adolescents is defined as systolic or diastolic blood pressure persistently greater than the 94^th percentile adjusted for age, sex, and height.^{<a href="#CIT0001" class="reflinks">1</a>} High blood pressure in children is considered the strongest predictor of hypertension and cardiovascular events later in life. Though usually harmless in the childhood, hypertension-related subclinical organ damage requires careful follow-up because of its implications for the cardiovascular and renal health of the adult.^{<a href="#CIT0002" class="reflinks">2</a>} In the United States, it has been estimated that high blood pressure can be diagnosed in up to 1–3% of children^{<a href="#CIT0003" class="reflinks">3</a>} and in the last 2 decades, the prevalence of high blood pressure in children is increased by 20% in male and 50% in females with 11 new cases detected every 100 children each year.^{<a href="#CIT0004" class="reflinks">4</a>} Despite these considerable epidemiological data, attention of physicians for high blood pressure in children is limited and the blood pressure measurement during regular childcare visits is sporadic even in high-risk subjects.^{<a href="#CIT0005" class="reflinks">5</a>}</span>

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