title: [Tracking of cardiovascular risk factors among school children: a four-year population surveillance in Susa, Tunisia].
abstract: In order to confirm the phenomenon of tracking of cardiovascular risk factors among school children, we undertook in 2003, a prospective survey of a population of 789 pupils aged 13 to 15 years who had participated in a first investigation on cardiovascular risk factors in 1999. We were able to follow and study 453 pupils (57.4% of the initial population). Prevalences of hypertension and obesity were respectively 11.3% and 6.1% without significant difference between sexes. On the other hand, hypercholesterolemia was significantly more elevated among girls than boys (16.1% versus 9.3%, p = 0.039). Children classified initially as hypertensive, obese or having a hypercholesterolemia were identified 4 years later at a subsequent exam as hypertensive, obese or having a hypercholesterolemia in respectively 25%, 48.9% and 59%. The stability of cardiovascular risk factors among children imposes an early screening for a better management and a policy of cardiovascular health promotion since childhood based essentially on prevention of risk factors in order to reduce the cardiovascular disease burden in adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Epidémiologie, CHU Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Hassen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghannem
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Abdelaziz
authors.forename: Khelifa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Limam
authors.forename: Rafika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gaha
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghedira
authors.forename: Imed
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Harrabi
authors.forename: Ahmed Sahloul
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Essoussi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology