Secular trends in hypertension and elevated blood pressure among Korean children and adolescents in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007‐2015

The prevalence of elevated blood pressure (BP) among US children and adolescents has reportedly declined over the past decade. As no Korean data have been analyzed, we aimed to determine recent trends in BP levels among Korean children and adolescents. This study examines data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey segregated into 3 time periods (2007‐2009, 2010‐2012, and 2013‐2015). A total of 7804 Korean children and adolescents aged 10‐18 years were included in the analysis. Hypertension (≥95th percentile) and elevated BP (>90th percentile) were defined using the sex‐, age‐, and height‐specific BP standards from 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Mean systolic BP from 2007‐2009 to 2013‐2015 increased by 3.9 mm Hg, and there was no significant change in diastolic BP. Body mass index (BMI) z‐scores significantly increased in the total population from 2007‐2009 to 2013‐2015. In 2013‐2015, the prevalence rates of elevated BP and hypertension were 8.8% and 9.0%, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension in 2013‐2015 increased in the total population compared with those in 2007‐2009, especially in the obese subgroup, in which the hypertension prevalence was 27.7% in 2013‐2015. The prevalence of elevated BP increased during these time period. Associated factors were sex, age, BMI z‐score, and survey period for elevated BP; and sex, age, and BMI z‐score for hypertension. During our study, mean systolic BP increased, and the prevalence of hypertension in 2013‐2015 increased in the pediatric population. A possible influencing factor is obesity, and further long‐term data are necessary.