INTRODUCTION: A previous study found that 0.04% of Danish children were registered with hypertension, among whom 54% were treated pharmacologically. Our study describes pharmacologically treated cases at the onset of antihypertensive therapy, noting whether the evaluation of target-organ damage could be improved.

METHODS: Our review of the medical records of children under 16 years living in Central and Eastern Denmark from April 2014 to May 2015 found that 119 children were registered with an International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition diagnosis of hypertension and treated with antihypertensive medicine.

RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 61% boys and 39% girls (p = 0.01). The majority of patients (80%) had secondary hypertension. Renal aetiology was found in 52%. Echocardiography, retinal examination and examination for proteinuria were undertaken in 77%, 74% and 100%, respectively. Both echocardiography and retinal examination were undertaken in 61% of patients with renal aetiology. Among the remaining patients, 95% and 89% underwent these examinations, respectively (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.001). Abnormal echocardiography, abnormal retinal examination and proteinuria were found in 39%, 16% and 66%, respectively, of patients with renal aetiology and in 30%, 24% and 35% of the remaining patients (p = 0.3, p = 0.4 and p less than 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Examination for target-organ damage was performed less often in patients with hypertension of renal aetiology than in the remaining patients. Examination for target-organ damage is recommended in all hypertensive children to determine whether treatment is indicated to reduce long-term morbidity.

FUNDING: The study received funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, grant number NNF15OC0015702 and from Amager-Hvidovre Hospital Foundation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.