Objective:

To establish the prevalence of arterial hypertension in pediatric patients hospitalized in a tertiary hospital center in Medellin, Colombia for 6 years.

Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out that reviewed retrospective information obtained from the clinical records of patients under 18 years of age hospitalized at the Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital in Medellín.

Results:

From a total of 382 pediatric patients hospitalized in the studied period, a prevalence of hypertension of 30.6% was found. Systolic hypertension prevalence was 23.6% and diastolic 20.7%. Age under 5, treatment with vancomycin and critical care admission increased the risk of being hypertensive during hospitalization.

Conclusions:

In children the frequency of hypertension in hospitalized patients is higher than the prevalence reported in outpatients. The highest risk group and potentially modifiable factors must be recognized and treatment administered in a timely manner. Secondary complications are low, except for left ventricular hypertrophy, which requires long-term follow-up.