SHORT REPORT Early detection of hypertension in general practice

We suggest a formula to aid diagnosis of hypertension in children and adolescents in general practice. The values obtained from this formula were found to correlate well with the values in the charts recommended by the Update of 1987 Task Force report on high blood pressure in chil-dren and adolescents. The relevance of childhood blood pressure measurement inpaediatric health care and development of adult essentialhypertension has under gone substantial conceptual change during the past two decades.1 The measurement of blood pressure is now firmly established as an important component in routine paediatric physical examination. Early detection of hypertension in the paediatric age group helps to introduce therapeutic and control measures. DEFINITION Hypertension is defined as average systolic or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 95th centile for age and sex measured on at least three separate occasions. • Systolic blood pressure is indicated by the appearance of the 1st Korotkov sound. • Diastolic blood pressure is indicated by the disappearance o