Objective:The objective of this study was 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 and 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, the 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 the left ventricular hypertrophy, which requires long-term follow-up.