Children should undergo regular blood pressure screenings to reduce their risk of life-threatening heart disease in adulthood, experts have warned.
A major new study has revealed that children with elevated blood pressure at the age of seven face up to a 50 per cent greater risk of dying from cardiovascular disease over the next five decades.
Despite the danger, most countries do not include blood pressure checks in national childhood screening programmes. Researchers say this gap must be closed, stressing that early detection can encourage heart-healthy habits and protect against serious illness later in life.
The study, led by scientists at Northwestern University in Chicago, tracked 38,000 children whose blood pressure was measured at age seven as part of a long-term US study. Over an average follow-up of 54 years, those with higher readings were far more likely to die prematurely from cardiovascular disease, especially by their mid-50s.
Children in the top 10 per cent for blood pressure, adjusted for age, sex and height, faced the greatest risk.
Lead author Alexa Freedman said: “Specifically, having hypertension or elevated blood pressure as a child may increase the risk of death by 40 to 50 per cent over the next five decades of an individual’s life. Our results highlight the importance of screening for blood pressure in childhood and focusing on strategies to promote optimal cardiovascular health beginning in childhood.”
The findings, published in JAMA and presented at the American Heart Association Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025 in Baltimore, echo earlier studies showing adolescents with high blood pressure face heightened risks of premature cardiovascular death.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics already recommends annual checks from age three, UK guidelines only call for testing when specific health concerns arise. Experts say the new results strengthen the case for universal monitoring.
Bonita Falkner, emeritus professor of paediatrics and medicine at Thomas Jefferson University, noted: “The results of this study support monitoring blood pressure as an important metric of cardiovascular health in childhood.”
High blood pressure, often symptomless, is a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and dementia. Many adults live with it unknowingly. Experts warn that awareness must begin early, as a simple childhood screening could mean the difference between a healthy life and fatal disease by middle age.