Elevated Childhood Blood Pressure Connected to Increased Risk of Early Heart Disease Death

Recent research presented at the American Heart Association's Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025 highlights the long-term health implications of high blood pressure in childhood. The study, published in JAMA, shows that children with higher blood pressure levels at age 7 face a significantly increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by their mid-50s.

The research analyzed data from over 38,000 children born between 1959 and 1965 who had their blood pressure measured during childhood as part of the Collaborative Perinatal Project, the largest U.S. study on early life health factors. Using the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, researchers converted child's blood pressure readings into age-, sex-, and height-specific percentiles.

Follow-up until an average age of 54 years revealed that children in the top 10% for blood pressure—whether systolic or diastolic—had a 40% to 50% higher chance of premature cardiovascular death. Even moderate elevations within the normal range increased the risk by 13-18%. Notably, siblings with higher childhood blood pressure showed similar risk increases, indicating that genetic and early environmental factors partly contribute but do not wholly explain the link.

Experts emphasize the importance of routine blood pressure screening in children, starting at age 3, to identify and manage risk early. The findings underscore that early-life blood pressure is a valuable predictor of future cardiovascular health outcomes.

While the study has limitations, including reliance on a single blood pressure measurement, it provides critical insights into the importance of childhood cardiovascular health. Monitoring and managing blood pressure from an early age could prove vital in reducing the burden of heart disease later in life.