Pediatric aspects of atherosclerosis

Estimation of coronary risk factors in British schoolchildren: a preliminary report

Surveys from several countries have identified the presence of risk factors known to be associated with coronary heart disease in children. Data on the distribution of coronary risk factor variables in British children are scarce. This study was therefore designed to test the feasibility of collecting coronary risk factor data from British children and to conduct a preliminary examination of the problem. One hundred and seven children (mean age 12.8 yr) had their height, weight, triceps skinfold and blood pressure checked. Blood samples for cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol analysis were obtained from 93 children. Peak VO2 was determined on 48 children, 76 children had their daily activity monitored and 59 children's stage of sexual maturity was assessed. The boys' peak VO2 was significantly higher than the girls, whether expressed in l.min-1 (p less than 0.05) or ml.kg.-1min-1 (p less than 0.01). No other significant differences (p greater than 0.05) between the sexes were detected. The results indicate that children have relatively high serum cholesterol levels (boys 4.58 +/- 0.79; girls 4.72 +/- 0.80 mmol.l-1). The willingness and enthusiasm of the children, parents and schools to take part in the study clearly demonstrated the feasibility of a large scale study being successfully pursued in the United Kingdom.

The cross-cultural study of U.S. and Greek adolescents: blood pressure data

Blood pressures (BP) were determined in 1409 boys aged 8-16 years at three one-year intervals in New York City (NYC) and in Greece, areas of high and low incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD), respectively. Non-Greek American boys had significantly lower systolic and diastolic BP than all the Greek boys from NYC and from Greece. The boys residing in Crete and in Athens had higher BP than all other cohorts. After covariance adjustment for height, ponderal index and age, significant differences among the cohorts showed the non-Greek American cohort to have the lowest and the Cretan cohorts the highest BP levels. The Cretans lead a lifestyle noted for the absence of other risk factors for CHD. Thus, while the incremental increase in blood pressure might have a corresponding increase in CHD risk among individuals, there are fewer individuals in Crete at elevated risk overall based on the CHD experience of the U.S. and Greece.