An epidemiological study in school children

Abstract

Blood pressure (BP) is influenced by genetic factors and some cardiovascular risk factors developed at an early age tend to remain throughout adulthood. On the other hand a regular physical activity (PA) decreases development of cardiovascular disease. This study analyses life-style of 1015 school children (girls:475 boys: 540; 11-12 years) participating in a screening for cardiovascular risk factors that took place in the suburban area of Pisa. During the baseline examination, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP, body mass index (BMI) and skinfold thickness (ST) were taken; the parents were asked to fill in a questionnaire that included demographic data, family history, parent's weight and height, children's perinatal measurements (birth weight, birth length and head circumference) and his or her actual involvement in PA. The results showed a positive correlation between parental and children's BMI (paternal BMI p <0.01 r=0,2; maternal BMI p<0.001 r=0.4), children's BP and children's BMI (SBP p<0.001 r=0.4; DBP p<0.001 r=0,3); a negative correlation between PA and SBP (p<0.001 r=0,3), DBP (p<0.001 r=0,4), children's BMI (p<0.001 r=0,4), ST (p<0.001 r=0,2) and heart rate (0,04 r=0,2). Step-wise multiple regression analysis with BP values as dependent variable and children's, birth's and parent's antropometric measurements, familial history of disease and PA as independent variables showed that PA and children's BMI were the variables carrying the greatest weight on BP values; furthermore step-wise multiple regression analysis with children's BMI as dependent variable and birth's and parent's antropometric measurements, familial history of disease and PA as independent variables showed that PA was the variables carrying the greatest weight on children's BMI. In conclusion our results shown that BP and BMI are independently related to PA in children; these data suggests that an early intervention with PA might have favourable effects in prevention of hypertension and obesity among adults.