Trends in risk factors for cardiovascular disease among children and adolescents in the United States.
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.


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.
Ford
Earl S
ES
Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS K66, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. eford@cdc.gov
Mokdad
Ali H
AH
Ajani
Umed A
UA
D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides