High blood pressure (BP) isn’t merely an adult issue; it can begin in childhood and persist throughout life. Despite its prevalence among young people, this condition often goes unnoticed in younger populations. This is where HyperChildNET comes into play — Europe’s first comprehensive network dedicated to tackling high blood pressure in children and adolescents.
Research conducted by HyperChildNET highlights the importance of maintaining healthy BP levels during childhood through primordial prevention. By addressing risk factors early on, this approach could lead to healthier adults and reduced healthcare costs. Professor Empar Lurbe from the University of Valencia, who chairs HyperChildNET, emphasizes: “The necessity for preventing, diagnosing, and treating high blood pressure in children is absolute; its absence hinders consensus across different research domains and impedes efforts to introduce changes in clinical practice.”
HyperChildNET has developed innovative tools and insights for managing BP in children. Accurate measurements require special attention and the right equipment. HyperChildNET improved this process by testing and validating blood pressure monitors designed specifically for children, ensuring reliable readings across different age groups. They also built Europe’s largest database containing information from 39,000 children in eight countries. This data helped them understand how BP varies among young populations.
HyperChildNET has become a solid and powerful European network that allows researchers to develop new strategies and advance the field of pediatric hypertension management. Their research revealed discrepancies between blood pressure readings taken at doctor’s visits and 24-hour monitoring results, showing that both types of measurement provide valuable but different information. For instance, some children may exhibit normal BP during office visits but have high BP throughout the day (masked hypertension), while others show opposite patterns (‘white coat hypertension’).
HyperChildNET developed three free online calculators: a Pediatric Office Blood Pressure Calculator; a Pediatric 24-Hour Ambulatory BP Calculator; and a Pediatric Home BP Calculator. These tools take into account factors like age, gender, and height when assessing blood pressure. More than 10,000 healthcare professionals worldwide use these tools to quickly assess readings and track treatment progress. However, doctors still need to confirm hypertension with three separate measurements before making a diagnosis.
HyperChildNET’s research uncovered significant health implications of high BP in children. In specialist clinics, they found that 20% of children with high BP develop thicker heart muscles. Additionally, researchers discovered that high BP affects blood vessel function and mental performance. Encouragingly, when treated early on, cognitive abilities often improve.
Despite limited clinical trial opportunities for children, HyperChildNET proposed innovative solutions to advance treatment research. They recommended using personalized trials that track individual responses to treatment and incorporating digital health technologies to monitor progress more effectively.
HyperChildNET revolutionized pediatric hypertension education by making it accessible in multiple languages across Europe and beyond. Their groundbreaking joint statement with the European Academy of Paediatrics, representing 67 pediatric societies, has become a global resource with over 5,500 downloads from outside Europe as well (e.g., USA, China, India). Recognizing that parents play a crucial role in managing their children’s condition, HyperChildNET developed engaging multilingual educational materials in simple and accessible language.
HyperChildNET’s innovative approach to health education involves young people who actively participate in explaining the topic to other children. This strategy has attracted 93,000 visitors to the website and more than 100 pediatricians to interactive webinars.
The annual European HyperChildNET Week coincides with World Children’s Day on November 20th, culminating in various initiatives aimed at raising awareness about this important issue.
HyperChildNET has successfully collaborated with the industry. Its partnership with OMRON Healthcare Europe BV goes beyond involving stakeholders; they opened their Amsterdam headquarters and offered free training through their academy to bridge the gap between research and real-world implementation. Additionally, members of HyperChildNET are participating in the eprObes project—a Horizon Europe grant worth €9.87 million—to prevent childhood obesity from conception to adolescence.
According to Prof. Lurbe, HyperChildNET’s success is due not only to scientific excellence but also to strong collaboration and friendship among all its members, making it a solid and powerful European network that allows for continuous progress in the field of pediatric hypertension management.
