Cardiovascular health education of families: the importance of school-based prevention strategies

Many people do not have sufficient knowledge about cardiovascular risk factors in Iran. We used a school-based educational intervention program to promote the health knowledge in all participating families. A total of 1100 fifth-grade school children and their parents were invited; 603 families were included in the study. The children attended a single session and were supplied with family information packages. Pre- and post-test questionnaires were completed by these families before and after the session. There was a significant increase in the overall cardiovascular risk factor knowledge of families [P<0.001]. The parents of boys achieved a greater level of health knowledge in comparison to the parents of girls [P<0.005]. This school-based educational intervention was effective in improving cardiovascular risk factor knowledge of families. Similar programs with more comprehensive methodology could be more effective in promoting healthy behaviors

Evaluation of dyslipidemia in polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome[PCOS] is the most endocrinopathy in women and the most common causes of anovulatory infertility. Women with this disorder moreover the common manifestations such as, irregular menses, hirsutism and infertility, are susceptible to serious consequences like increase risk of endometrial carcinoma, dyslipidemia, hypertention, glocose intolerance, diabetes, cardiovascular problems and probably breast cancer. This study was conducted to demostrate the demographic, clinical, metabolic and hormonal conditions of the PCOS patients. A case-control study was performed on females with PCOS age group 15-40 years referring to endocrine and gynecology clinics. A control healthy woman was selected for each patient. The diagnosis of PCOS was made based upon the prescence of chronic anovolation and hyperandrogenemia .Other causes of hyperandrogenism were excluded by appropriate clinical and laboratory evalution .In all patients with PCOS and control women, appropriate medical history was taken and physical examination was done.Blood pressure, body weight, height, BMI, waist/hip ratio, score of hirsotism, acne, and other signs of androgen excess were determined.A venous blood sample were obtained at morning after 12'14hours fasting for measuring FBS, TG, Chol., LDL, HDL and hormonal profile, souch as:PROL, 17'OH Progestrone, Te, DHEA-S and TSH.Case of late onset adrenal hyperplasia, hypotyroidism and pituitary prolactinoma were excluded.The diagnosis of dyslipidemia was made upon the base of NCEP guidelines.Data was analyzed with Mann'Whitney U, T tests and Fisher's and Chi'Square Tests with SPSS-11. Mean age were similar in both patients and controls.Mean of BMI and diastolic pressure were significantly higher in PCOS women in comparison with controls. Hirsutism and oligomenorrhea were the most frequent clinical features[72.7% and 69.1% respectively]. SerumTG level was significantly higher in PCOS women in comparison with controls.There were no significant difference in FBS, Chol, LDL and HDL between patients and controls. The prevalence of high triglyceride, high cholesterol and high LDL levels were significantly higher in PCOS women in comparison with controls, but there were no significant difference in the prevalence of IFG and low HDL levels. The prevalence of high TG and high Chol level were significantly higher in obese PCOS women in comparison with non obese patients.There was no significant difference in the prevalence of high LDL and low HDL levels between obese and nonobese patients. Serum level of total Testostrone was significantly higher in PCOS women in comparison with controls.There were no significant difference in serum levels of DHEA-S, 17-OH Progestrone, Prolactine and TSH between patients and controls. The prevalence of obesity and dyslipidemia were higher in PCOS women in comparison with healthy women. For obese women with PCOS, behevioral weight management is the main component of overall treatment strategy and these patients counseling about the importance of life style management, diet and exercise shoud be emphasized. The patients should screened for dyslipidemia, diabetes and hypertension. In this study there was no significant difference in FBS between two groups and IGT and DM may be better detected by OGTT. In all PCOS women for detecting dyslipidemia a fasting lipid profile is indicated

[Cardiovascular screening of children and parents in high-risk families]

Background: cardiovascular disease is one of the major leading cause of death in Iran. There is a strong association between parental history of cardiovascular disease clustering of risk factors in the offspring. Detection and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors since childhood is essential to reduce the incidence of disease in adulthood. This study was performed to identify major cardiovascular risk factors in middle school-aged children and their parents in high risk compared to control families

Methods: the middle schools of the 6th of Tehran were divided randomly into two groups. A total of 169 high-risk children with their families were recruited from the first group while 105 control children with their families were recruited from the second group of schools. Coronary risk factor survey was performed in the participants

Results: prevalence of increased total- and LDL-cholesterol and high FBS were higher in high-risk parents and children. Prevalence of increased BMI was higher in fathers and children of high-risk families. More fathers in high-risk families were smoker. The means of waist circumference and WHR were significantly higher in high-risk fathers. The means of total- and LDL- cholesterol were significantly higher both in parents and children of high-risk group. The means of FBS were significantly higher in fathers and offspring of high-risk families

Conclusion: cardiovascular risk factors are more prevalent and clustered in high-risk families. Screening of these families is essential to prevent progression of cardiovascular disease since childhood and reduce its burden in adulthood

[Obesity and associated cardiovascular risk factors in Iranian children]

Background: obesity is a serious public health problem in developing countries due to its association with the cardiovascular risk factors. Childhood obesity is responsible for a number of different complications both during childhood and adulthood. The aim of the present study was to determine the cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese Iranian children

Methods: we screened 13086 children aged 7-12 years by measuring waist circumference. Those with a waist circumference 261 cm were selected for further evaluation. Antjfropometric measurements were'done and blood samples were taken from 563 enrolled ovenveightlobese children [284 boys and 279 girls]. We determined cardiovascular risk factors [including fasting total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, blood pressure]. In addition we measured the fasting blood .sugar, insulin, apo-A , apo-B and leptin levels

Results: only 2.7% of overweight or obese children had no risk factors. While, 20.6% had one and 70.85% had two or more risk factors. The prevalence of high total Cholestrol levels was 42.6%. HDLC showed an acceptable level in 92.4%of children .There were strong correlations between BMI and serum apoB and leptin levels [p<0.005]

Conclusion: the high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese Iranian children emphasizes the need for prevention and control of childhood obesity from early childhood in our country