Abstract
BackgroundDespite significant declines in cardiovascular disease (CVD), it remains the number one cause of death in the United States. Determining factors that may be associated with CVD risk at a young age may allow us to better prevent CVD deaths in the future. The purpose of this paper is to determine the prevalence of CVD risk factors among 4th grade children who participated in a community-wide CVD education program; as well as the association of these risk factors with weight status and the prevalence of CVD risk factors among family members.MethodsThe Poudre Valley Health Systems, Healthy Hearts Club has provided a cardiovascular screening program (1992–2013) to identify risk factors among students in six Northern Colorado school districts. There were 9,694 children (mean age, 10.3 years, 50 % female) included. Data were collected cross-sectionally with objective measures of total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). Surveys were filled out by the parent and/or legal guardian and included questions about risk factors among family members. Means and frequencies were compared using SPSS software version 22 (IBM, Inc.).ResultsThere were a significant number of children with elevated risk factors, including 35 % with total cholesterol ≥ 170 mg/dl, 22 % with HDL-C < 40 mg/dl, 13 % with Non-HDL-C ≥ 145 mg/dL, 6 % and 7 % with systolic and diastolic blood pressure ≥ 120 mmHg, and ≥ 80 mmHg respectively, and 21 % with BMI ≥ 85 % for age and sex. All the risk factors increased significantly when comparing normal weight to overweight and obese children. Further, among children with zero risk factors, 32.2 % reported a family member (other than the child) being overweight, while 56.5 % reported such among those children with five or six risk factors.ConclusionsOverall, the prevalence of CVD risk factors in these children is similar to national levels and these factors are meaningfully associated with overweight and obesity, both within the child as well as within the family. This data suggests CVD risk factor reduction and prevention must focus on overweight and obesity and not be done in isolation of the family.
Highlights
Despite significant declines in cardiovascular disease (CVD), it remains the number one cause of death in the United States
Recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data shows that 8.1 % of youth 6–19 years. have total cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL, and 14.8 % have low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) < 40 mg/dL; further, among males and females ages 8–17 years., 19.2 % and 12.6 % respectively, were found to have elevated blood pressure [2, 3], while ~34 % of children and adolescents were above the 85th percentile of body mass index (BMI) for age and sex [4]
Primordial prevention of CVD risk factors in children, that is preventing their development in the first place, as well as primary prevention, addressing risk factors before they lead to disease, are primary goals of the American Heart Association (AHA) and the Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents [1, 5]
Summary
Despite significant declines in cardiovascular disease (CVD), it remains the number one cause of death in the United States. The purpose of this paper is to determine the prevalence of CVD risk factors among 4th grade children who participated in a community-wide CVD education program; as well as the association of these risk factors with weight status and the prevalence of CVD risk factors among family members. Despite significant declines in cardiovascular disease (CVD) since the 1950’s, CVD is still the number one cause of death in the United States. The purpose of this paper is to determine the prevalence of CVD risk factors among 4th grade children who participated in a community-wide CVD education program in Northern Colorado from 1992–2013; and to consider exposures that may be associated with these risk factors, weight status and the prevalence of CVD risk factors among family members
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