Some cardiovascular risk factors among children: hypertension and lipoprotein [a]

ABSTRACT

Mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular diseases among adults is increasing. Prevention of these serious clinical events should begin in childhood. To study hypertension and lipoprotein [a] concentration and some other serum cardiovascular risk indicators among children. The study population included 168 children aged 1-14 years. Children accompanied by their mothers were interviewed for data collection. Every child was clinically examined and his/her blood pressure and anthropometric measurements recorded. Serum samples from children with hypertension and a matched normotensivc control group were examined to determine Iipoprotein [a] [Lp a], fasting blood sugar, serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, high-density lipoprotcin cholesterol [HDL-c]. and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-c] level. Hypertensive children, [totaled 10 who were all of school age] represented 5.95% of the total with no significant difference between males and females. Hypertensive children were significantly more likely to have positive family history of hypertension compared to normotensive children. Hypertensive children were found to have significantly higher means of body mass index [BMI], skin fold thickness, serum cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c, Lp [a] and triglycerides as compared to normotensive children. Lipoprotein [a] was found to be not correlated with any of the other risk factors. blood pressure of school age children should be periodically screened to early diagnose and treat hypertensive cases especially among children with family history of hypertension. Efforts should be directed at prevention and management of obesity in children and adolescents as it is frequently accompanied with hypertension. Lipoprotein [a] should be measured periodically for children having positive family history of premature death from cardiovascular disease, even in the absence of other risk factors, as it constitutes an independent risk factor