December 1, 2004PEDIATRICS169 citations
View Full PaperTrends in Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease Among Children and Adolescents in the United States
Key Result
Between 1988-1994 and 1999-2000, waist circumference increased by 1.6 cm in males and 2.4 cm in females, and mean systolic blood pressure increased by 2.2 mm Hg among US children and adolescents.
Study Design
Type
Cross-Sectional (n=16,276)
Multicenter
Yes
Structured PICO
How have cardiovascular risk factors changed among children and adolescents in the US between 1988-1994 and 1999-2000?
P
Population
16,276 children and adolescents, 2 to 17 years of age, from the United States (NHANES III 1988-1994 n=12,665 and NHANES 1999-2000 n=3,611)
C
Comparator
Historical comparison (1988-1994 vs 1999-2000)
O
Outcome
Trends in obesity-associated risk factors for cardiovascular disease (waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, glucose, cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin)surrogate
Despite increasing obesity and waist circumference among US children and adolescents during the 1990s, trends in other cardiovascular risk factors were mixed, with increases in systolic blood pressure but decreases in triglycerides and glucose.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The increasing prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents in recent decades might have affected trends in obesity-associated risk factors for cardiovascular disease. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: We used data for 12,665 children and adolescents, 2 to 17 years of age, from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) and for 3611 children and adolescents from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000. RESULTS: For participants 2 to 17 years of age, waist circumference increased 1.6 cm among male subjects and 2.4 cm among female subjects. Mean systolic blood pressure increased by 2.2 mm Hg among children and adolescents 8 to 17 years of age. There were significant decreases in concentrations of triglycerides (8.8 mg/dL) and glucose (2.5 mg/dL) among children and adolescents 12 to 17 years of age. Mean concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glycosylated hemoglobin were relatively unchanged. Some changes in means of risk factors varied according to age. CONCLUSIONS: The temporal trends for risk factors among children and adolescents during the 1990s exhibited different patterns. The effects of the increasing prevalence of obesity on the cardiovascular health of children and adolescents remain unclear.