Definition of arterial hypertension for ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) in children and adolescents
| Arterial BP category | BP percentiles7 20 and corresponding z-scores24 defined for children (6–13 years) and adolescents (14–18 years) | BP threshold values20 defined for adults (>18 years) and if applicable for adolescents (14–18 years)* |
| Hypotension | At least one criterion: Sys <P5 (z-score <-1.645) Dia <P5 (z-score <-1.645) | Not defined |
| Normotension | Both criteria: Sys ≥P5 and <P90 (z-score ≥-1.645 and <1.282) Dia ≥P5 and <P90 (z-score ≥-1.645 and <1.282) | Both criteria: Sys_D <130 mm Hg Dia_D <80 mm Hg |
| Prehypertension | At least one criterion: Sys ≥P90 and <P95 (z-score ≥1.282 and <1.645) Dia ≥P90 and <P95 (z-score ≥1.282 and <1.645) | At least one criterion: Sys_D ≥130 and <135 mm Hg Dia_D ≥80 and <85 mm Hg |
| Hypertension stage I | At least one criterion: Sys ≥P95 and <(P99 + 5 mm Hg) (z-score ≥1.645 and <(2.326 + 5 mm Hg)) Dia ≥P95 and <(P99 + 5 mm Hg) (z-score ≥1.645 and <(2.326 + 5 mm Hg)) | At least one criterion: Sys_D ≥135 mm Hg Sys_N ≥120 mm Hg Dia_D ≥85 mm Hg Dia_N ≥70 mm Hg |
| Hypertension stage II | At least one criterion: Sys ≥(P99 + 5 mm Hg) (z-score ≥(2.326 + 5 mm Hg)) Dia ≥(P99 + 5 mm Hg) (z-score ≥(2.326 + 5 mm Hg)) | Not defined |
*If adolescents exceeded the threshold value for arterial hypertension of adults (but not the threshold value for arterial hypertension of children), then the lower threshold value for adults was important.20
BP, blood pressure; D, daytime blood pressure; Dia, diastolic blood pressure; N, night-time blood pressure; P, blood pressure percentile (eg, P90 = 90th blood pressure percentile); Sys, systolic blood pressure.