A new index to simplify the screening of hypertension in overweight or obese youth

Hypertension (HTH) is a frequent complication in pediatric obesity. To simplify the screening of HTH in overweight/obese (Ow/Ob) youth, we compared the performance of a new index (High Blood Pressure index, HBPi) with respect to the standard criteria of the IV Report [systolic BP (SBP) and/or diastolic BP (DBP) ≥95th percentile for age, gender and height]. We also compared the performance of HBPi with other simplified indices such as the BP/height ratio and the absolute height-specific BP thresholds. Ten pediatrics' outpatient centers participating in the "CARdiometabolic risk factors in ITALY study" provided medical records of 4225 Ow/Ob children and adolescents (age 6-16 years).