Adult health issues ‘can be identified in childhood’

Health conditions in adults could be pre-empted as it is possible to identify many ailments in childhood, a new study has revealed.

According to research by the University of Otago, published in the journal Hypertension, high blood pressure is among the conditions that can be flagged up early, even though it is most commonly associated with people in middle and old age.

Early indicators that a person is vulnerable to high blood pressure in later life includes a family history of the condition, while being a firstborn child with a lower birthweight and male could also increase a person's chances of having high blood pressure levels.

Smoking cigarettes over time and having a higher body mass index could also make a person more susceptible.

Dr Reremoana Theodore, lead author of the study, commented: "This new information is useful for screening purposes to help clinicians identify young people who may develop high blood pressure later in adulthood."