Urinary tract infections and the long-term risk of hypertension

Abstract 

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a significant cause of morbidity amongst children. A proportion of children who have suffered from a UTI will go on to develop renal parenchymal damage (RPD), also known as renal scarring. Systemic arterial hypertension is one of the significant long-term complications associated with RPD subsequent to a UTI. There is a 5–26% risk of developing hypertension in this context. The risk is cumulative over time, with data from follow-up studies suggesting that with increasing duration of follow-up, there is an increasing risk of developing hypertension. There is also an increased risk if the RPD is bilateral or more extensive. Males, although affected less commonly with UTIs, have a proportionately higher risk of developing hypertension.

Keywords:  urinary tract infections, hypertension, renal scarring, renal parenchymal damage