Tracking of blood pressure from childhood to adulthood: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Aims: To systematically review and analyze published findings of blood pressure (BP) tracking from childhood to adulthood. Methods: We searched PubMed for related studies published since 1970. From 301 retrieved articles, 50 studies met our inclusion criteria. They provided 358 data points (ie, tracking correlation coefficients for variant follow‐up and baseline age‐, sex‐, race/ethnic groups). Related data were extracted using a standardized protocol. Our meta‐analysis assessed the predictors of BP tracking using multivariate linear regression analysis. Results: Average BP tracking correlation coefficient was 0.40 for systolic BP (SBP) and 0.30 for diastolic BP (DBP). Sex was not a significant predictor, but length of follow‐up, baseline age, population/race group, and publication year were. Years of follow‐up negatively associated with tracking (SBP: β= −0.011, P<0.001; DBP: β= −0.013, P<0.001). The correlation for <5, 5–9, 10–14, ≥15 y follow‐up were 0.44, 0.41, 0.32, 0.24 for SBP, and 0.31, 0.29, 0.22, 0.17 for DBP. White Americans, Asians, and other populations had weaker tracking than Europeans. Recent studies reported stronger tracking. Conclusions: The evidence of BP tracking from childhood into adulthood is strong, but with considerable differences across studies and populations. Early intervention is important.