Awareness of pediatric hypertension. Measuring blood pressure.

Surveys of patients at three pediatric teaching hospitals showed a low percentage of blood pressure recordings by the examining physician in the walk-in or emergency clinics. The frequency of blood pressure measurement was higher among inpatients, especially on medical services. A recommendation for obtaining blood pressure measurements is made on three bases: 1. many patients use these ambulatory services as their major source of care, 2. many conditions for which care is sought and many therapeutic agents are associated with hypertension, and 3. unless measurements of blood pressure become customary during training, it is likely that blood pressure recording may not be included as part of routine physical examinations.