When Hypertension Grows Up: Implications for Transitioning Care of Adolescents and Young Adults With Hypertension From Pediatric to Adult Health Care Providers

Hypertension (HTN) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children as well as adults. HTN and related adverse car-diovascular health develop and progress on a continuum across an individual's life course. Pediatric HTN, or even isolated elevated blood pressure as a child, increases the risk of sustained HTN and cardiovascular disease in later adulthood. Transition-ing the care of adolescents and young adults who have HTN is an important but unmet health care need that could potentially have a dramatic effect on mitigating the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. However, very little has been published about the transition process in this population, and considerable gaps in the field remain. We discuss the epidemiology, etiol-ogy, and management approach in youth with HTN and how they differ from adults. We contextualize HTN and cardiovascular health on a continuum across the life course. We discuss key considerations for the transition process for adolescents and young adults with HTN including the major barriers that exist. Finally, we review key immediate health care needs that are particularly important around the time of the transfer of care.(c) 2021 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Hypertension in children is associated with an increased risk of sustained hypertension and cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Transitioning the care of adolescents and young adults with hypertension is an important unmet healthcare need that can significantly mitigate cardiovascular disease risk in adulthood. However, there is a lack of published literature on the transition process in this population, leading to considerable gaps in the field.