A US study shows that high blood pressure in children as young as seven increases their risk of dying from heart disease by midlife. Early screening and lifestyle habits are key to prevention, experts warn.
BALTIMORE: Elevated blood pressure in childhood could pose a serious risk to long-term heart health, according to a new study presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025. The research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reveals that children with slightly high blood pressure at the age of seven face a 40 to 50 percent higher risk of premature death from heart disease.
The study followed over 38,000 children in the United States who were first examined between 1959 and 1965. Blood pressure levels were assessed at age seven using standards that adjust for sex, age, and height, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
To understand the long-term impact, scientists linked these early health records with data from the National Death Index, tracking participants’ health until 2016. By then, the average participant was 54 years old. Among them, 2,837 had died, including 504 due to cardiovascular issues such as heart attacks and strokes.
The findings suggest that cardiovascular risk can begin decades earlier than previously thought. Researchers now advocate for earlier and more routine screening of blood pressure in children. They also urge parents and caregivers to encourage heart-healthy habits from a young age—this includes nutritious diets, regular exercise, reduced sodium intake, better sleep routines, and stress management.
The study emphasises the need to shift the perception of high blood pressure from being an adult-only concern to a child health issue with long-term implications.
