Key result
Children with hypertension, obesity, or hypertriglyceridemia were associated with 15, 6, and 5 times increased odds, respectively, of their parents having the same cardiovascular risk factors.
Why the study?
Does cardiovascular disease risk-factor assessment in children identify parents at increased risk for cardiovascular disease?
Cross-Sectional (n=249)
Does cardiovascular disease risk-factor assessment in children identify parents at increased risk for cardiovascular disease?
Screening children for cardiovascular risk factors can effectively identify parents at elevated risk, suggesting children could serve as index cases for family-wide cardiovascular risk assessment.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Screening children for CVD risk factors may flag at-risk families; leaves open whether routine assessment improves outcomes or warrants practice change.
OBJECTIVES: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Atherosclerosis begins early in life; however, children and young and middle-aged adults are not universally screened for the presence of modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether cardiovascular disease risk-factor assessment in children can identify families who are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Family Strategies Concentrating on Risk Evaluation is a community-based participatory research study designed to stratify cardiovascular disease risk in a cohort of children and their parents. Eligible families, consisting of > or = 1 child and > or = 1 biological parent, are recruited through community and faith-based educational and screening programs. In a single, fasted study visit, participants undergo assessment of cardiovascular disease risk factors: obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. Associations of cardiovascular disease risk factors between children and their parents were assessed. RESULTS: Data were analyzed from 94 families: 108 parents (mean age: 38.5 +/- 7.5 years), 141 children (mean age: 10.5 +/- 3.4 years), and 170 child-parent pairs. Child-parent association was strong for many risk factors: BMI, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. Several discrete-defined risk factors in children were found to be significant predictors of the presence of the same risk factors in their parents. Parents of children with hypertension, obesity, or hypertriglyceridemia had 15 times, 6 times, or 5 times increased odds, respectively, of having the same risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of several clinically apparent and silent cardiovascular disease risk factors in children predicts elevated cardiovascular disease risk in their parents. Because children access primary care more frequently than adults, children can potentially serve as the index case to identify families at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Reis et al. (2006) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular disease risk factors (n=249). Cardiovascular disease risk factors in children vs. Children without these risk factors was evaluated on Presence of the same cardiovascular disease risk factors in parents (OR 15 for hypertension, OR 6 for obesity, OR 5 for hypertriglyceridemia). Children with hypertension, obesity, or hypertriglyceridemia were associated with 15, 6, and 5 times increased odds, respectively, of their parents having the same cardiovascular risk factors.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: