RESUMO
No recommendations regarding in-school blood pressure (BP) screening currently exist. The purpose of this project was to use an evidence-based approach to determine whether BP screening should be initiated as part of one school district's standard screening protocols. Pediatric BP measurement, risk factors for hypertension, issues for determining youth at risk for hypertension, and eligibility criteria for determining conditions appropriate for screening are discussed. BPs of 1st, 6th, and 11th graders were evaluated according to standardized criteria. The evidence indicated that BP screening in school appears warranted, although a formalized study is needed before a definitive decision can be made regarding the incorporation of BP screening into school health services.
