High childhood BP linked to higher heart disease death risk in 50s

new delhi: higher blood pressure at age seven could increase the risk of dying from heart disease in mid-50s, researchers said, stressing the importance of checking children's blood pressure regularly and promoting heart-healthy habits.“having hypertension or elevated blood pressure as a child may increase the risk of death by 40 to 50 per cent over the next five decades,” said alexa freedman, assistant professor at northwestern university's school of medicine and lead author of the study.the findings were presented at the american heart association's hypertension scientific sessions 2025 and published in the journal of the american medical association (jama).the study followed around 38,000 children born to women enrolled in the us collaborative perinatal project between 1959 and 1966. by 2016, 2,837 participants had died, including 504 from cardiovascular disease.“in a large sample of us children born between 1959 and 1966, higher bp at age seven was associated with greater risk of premature cardiovascular mortality,” the authors noted.“our results highlight the importance of screening for blood pressure in childhood and promoting optimal cardiovascular health from an early age,” freedman added.bonita falkner, emeritus professor of paediatrics and medicine at thomas jefferson university, said the study and similar research will help refine definitions of abnormal blood pressure and hypertension in children.