Abstract

MORERA ROJAS, Blanca Paula; RODRIGUEZ RAMOS, Jorge Félix; FERNANDEZ BRITTO RODRIGUEZ, José Emilio  and  ALMORA CARBONEL, Ceramides. Screening for early atherosclerotic signs in children from 6 to 11 years in a primary school. Rev Ciencias Médicas [online]. 2013, vol.17, n.2, pp. 13-25. ISSN 1561-3194.

Introduction: early atherosclerotic signs have been identified as a top priority of investigation to the Research Center and Reference of Atherosclerosis in Havana Province. Objective: to screen early atherosclerotic signs in children from 6 to 11 years old.Material and Method: an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in 247 children apparently healthy enroll at "Salvador Gonzalez Delgado" elementary school, belonging to "Hermanos Cruz" health area in Pinar del Rio province during 2009-2010. The data were stored in a database (Microsoft Excel 2003) and processed using the Statistics 4.2 program. The variables were summed up by means of absolute and relative percentage frequencies. Results: 23.9 % of children were overweight and 39,3% obese, 73,3% were affected by passive smoking. Pre-hypertensive children (24,7%) were identified and 3,2% suffered from hypertension. Conclusions: the presence of early atherogenic signs associated with overweight bodies, waist circumference, blood pressure and passive smoking in children apparently healthy (6 to 11 years old) found by family doctors, parents and school teachers constitute warning indicators to the health authorities, undertaking active and systematic screening of these signs in children.

Keywords : Atherosclerosis; Obesity; Waist circumference; Hypertension; Smoking.

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