Abstract

FERRER ARROCHA, Marlene et al. Obesity, hypertension and smoking:: early atherosclerotic signals found in adolescent students from "Guido Fuentes" junior high school. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 2009, vol.28, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3011.

Introduction A cross-sectional study was conducted in a group of 347 adolescent students from "Guido Fuentes" junior high school, which is cared for by "Heroes del Moncada" polyclinics. Objectives To identify obesity, hypertension and smoking that are atherosclerotic signals in adolescents; to set the association of these variables, and to group the population according to the number of detected signals. Methods Weight, size, waist and hip circumference were estimated, and then the nutritional status was determined according to the body mass index percentiles. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were taken and classified according to blood pressure percentiles. The adolescents gave information on smoking. The statistical analysis comprised summary statistics for frequency distribution and simple contingency table analysis. Results 20.4 % of adolescent students were overweighted or obese, 9% had high blood pressure figures, 55 % were passive smokers whereas 4.9 % were active smokers. There was strong association of hypertension and obesity (p=0,001). It was observed that 18.1% showed two atherosclerotic signasls and 7.8 % had all three, therefore, 70.3 % presented with early atherosclerotic signals. Conclusions The need of taking preventive measures in this population group so as to avoid or reduce the risks that obesity, hypertension and smoking can bring to health in the medium and long run.

Keywords : Adolescence; obesity; hypertension; smoking; early atherosclerotic signal.