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Atherosclerosis risk factors in children of high risk families
T Szamosi1, A Murber, T Szamosi
1Second Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary. szatam@gyer2.sote.hu
Insights
Atherosclerosis risk factors are detectable in children with a family history of early heart disease. Early detection in youth can improve the effectiveness of preventive strategies against cardiovascular disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Premature coronary heart disease (CHD) in parents (before age 45) indicates a high genetic risk for offspring.
- Identifying atherosclerosis risk factors in childhood is crucial for early intervention.
- Preventive strategies initiated in childhood and adolescence can mitigate long-term cardiovascular risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of atherosclerosis risk factors in children with a parental history of premature CHD.
- To inform and enhance the effectiveness of childhood and adolescent preventive programs.
- To establish baseline data for early cardiovascular risk assessment in high-risk youth.
Main Methods:
- Measurements included height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and body fat percentage.
- Blood pressure was monitored, with 24-hour monitoring and fundoscopy for elevated readings.
- Fasting blood sugar (BS), oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), serum lipids (total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDLC), total triglyceride (TT), LDL-cholesterol (LDLC)), and plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive system (TBARS) were analyzed.
- Statistical analysis utilized chi-squared and Student t-tests, comparing 1140 offspring to 457 referents.
Main Results:
- Elevated BMI (>90th percentile) was found in 87 offspring, with body fat >40% in overweight children.
- Hypertension (>90th percentile) affected 311 children and adolescents.
- Abnormal glucose metabolism (fasting BS >5 mmol/l) was present in 47 cases, with 17 showing pathological OGTT results.
- High TC (67 cases), high TT (8 cases), low HDLC (245 cases), and high plasma TBARS (241 cases) were observed.
- Offspring exhibited significantly higher TC, LDLC, and TBARS, and lower HDLC compared to referents.
Conclusions:
- Atherosclerosis risk factors are identifiable in children and adolescents from families with a history of premature heart disease.
- Measuring these risk factors early in life can significantly improve the success of preventive interventions.
- This study underscores the importance of early screening and intervention for cardiovascular health in high-risk pediatric populations.
Unlabelled:
The Objective of this study was to determine the frequency of care reactive atherosclerosis risk factors in children of parents with premature coronary heart disease observed before their 45 years of age for the promotion of the effectivity of the preventive work started in childhood and adolescent ages.
Methods:
Height and weight was measured. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Fat analysis was performed in children with overweight. Blood pressure was measured and both 24 hour monitoring and fundoscopy were performed in cases with a blood pressure higher than 90 centile values. Fasting blood sugar (BS) level was measured. Oral glucose tolerance test was made in cases with a fasting BS level higher than 5 mmol/l. Serum total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDLC) and total triglyceride (TT) levels were measured and LDL-cholesterol (LDLC) level was calculated. The plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive system (TBARS) was investigated. Statistical analyses were performed by chi2 and Student t-probes. Data of 1140 offsprings and 457 referents without any high atherosclerotic risk family history were analyzed.
Results:
BMI of 87 offsprings was higher than the 90 centile value. The fat percent of the body of these children was higher than 40. The blood pressure of 311 children and adolescents was higher than the 90 centile value. Fasting BS level was higher than 5 mmol/l in 47 cases 17 of them showed a pathologic oral glucose tolerance test. High serum TC level was observed in 67 cases, high serum TT level was found in 8 cases. 245 offsprings had a low serum HDLC level. The plasma TBARS level was high in 241 cases. Data of referents differed significantly from those of offsprings. Their serum TC, LDLC levels and plasma TBARS level were lower, serum HDLC level was higher than that of children and adolescents with high risk atherosclerotic family history.
Conclusion:
Risk factors of atherosclerosis are detectable in children and adolescents of high risk families. The measurement of these factors may help the efficacy of the preventive work.