[Coronary risk factors in adolescence. The FRICELA study].
OBJECTIVE
In a grou of adolescents, to examine the prevalence of behaviors and risk factors that predispose to coronary heart disease and ascertain their associations.


METHODS
A population of 2,599 adolescents, age 12 to 19 years, both sexes, was studied. The study sites were 30 public or private medical centers located in the Federal District and 12 provinces of Argentina.


RESULTS
Teenagers with hypercholesterolemia had a greater body mass index, higher incidence of hypertension, and more frequent sedentary lifestyle. There was a positive correlation between hypertension, body mass index, and family history of hypertension, and a negative correlation with physical exercise. Obesity in the young correlated with obesity in their parents. At the age of 19 years, 42% consumed alcohol and 28% smoked. The association between smoking and alcohol consumption was very high (p < 0.0001). The smoking habits of parents strongly influenced their children.


CONCLUSIONS
Early inculcation of a healthy lifestyle, consisting of regular physical exrcise, a healthy diet, and no smoking, could be the most important behavorial and risk factor interventions in the effort to curtail atherosclerosis in adults.
Paterno
Carlos Alberto
CA
Consejo de Epidemiología y Prevención Cardiovascular. Sociedad Argentina de Cardiología. Comité de Estudio Permanente del Adolescente. Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría. Argentina.
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology