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AAP Releases New Blood Pressure Guidelines

Pediatrics; ePub 2017 Aug 21; Flynn, et al

Publish date:

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released new guidelines on screening and managing hypertension in children and adolescents. Among the changes outlined in the updated report:

  • The term prehypertension should be replaced with “elevated blood pressure.”
  • A new blood pressure (BP) table has been published that lists normal readings in children and teens.
  • A simplified classification system for BP in teens aged 13 and older is now available.
  • AAP has provided more streamlined recommendations on how to initially assess and treat abnormal BP readings.

Citation:

Flynn JT, Kaelber DC, Baker-Smith CM, et al. Clinical practice guideline for screening and management of high blood pressure in children and adolescents. [Published online ahead of print August 21, 2017]. Pediatrics. doi:10.1542/peds.2017-1904.

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