[Waist circumference, dyslipidemia and hypertension in prepubertal children].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between anthropometric variables, lipid concentrations and blood pressure in a sample of prepubertal children and to asses the importance of waist circumference in identifying certain cardiovascular risk factors in this age group.


METHODS
A cross-sectional analysis of a random sample of prepubertal children aged 2 to 9 years old was performed. Height, weight, triceps skinfold, body mass index, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured. Plasma levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose were determined.


RESULTS
A total of 240 prepubertal children were studied. There were 123 (51.3 %) boys and 117 (48.8 %) girls. The prevalence of overweight, high blood pressure and insulin-resistance syndrome was 16.6 %, 3.7 % and 1.2 %, respectively. Triceps skinfold and fat mass were significantly higher in girls. There were no significant differences in lipid profiles between obese children and those with a healthy weight. Waist circumference had a positive and significant correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Furthermore, waist circumference was also associated with a greater risk of elevated values of total cholesterol, triglycerides and hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
Waist circumference may be a helpful parameter in identifying prepubertal children with an adverse lipid profile and hypertension.
Cuestas Montañés
E
E
Servicio de Pediatría y Neonatología, Hospital Privado Centro Médico de Córdoba, Argentina. ecuestas@hospitalprivadosa.com.ar
Achával Geraud
A
A
Garcés Sardiña
N
N
Larraya Bustos
C
C
D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors