Cardiovascular risk factors in the adolescent population of Chukotka

Representative samples of adolescents of both sexes, aged 15-17, who were residents of coastal and tundra Chukotka settlements (325 subjects) have been examined. The survey was conducted according to methods based on WHO recommendations. The program included a questionnaire, two measurements of arterial blood pressure, anthropometry, and assessment of blood lipid levels. The prevalence of smoking in boys was 40%; in girls, 19%. High systolic BP occurred more often in newly arrived boys (25%). Hypercholesterolemia was minimal in Chukotka Natives (5%), as was hypertriglyceridemia. The prevalence of low HDL cholesterol was highest (48%) in Native boys. Lipid disorders in Chukotka Native children obviously result from an unbalanced diet. High levels of arterial blood pressure in non-Native adolescents of Chukotka are probably caused by stress on the adaptation system under severe conditions in the North.