[Cardiovascular risk factors among 7-and 14-year old schoolchildren in Cartagena, Colombia, 2009].
OBJECTIVE
Identifying family history, dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia, low physical activity and being overweight or suffering from obesity as cardiovascular risk factors in children aged 7 to 14 years in Cartagena, 2009.


METHODS
A descriptive study of 173 children from Cartagena, Colombia, was designed. Biochemical serum parameters were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Habits were investigated through interviews and altered body weight was established using the body mass index (BMI).


RESULTS
The sample consisted of 87 girls and 86 boys, and mean age was 9.9 years (9.6-10.3, 95 % CI). 75.1% (68.7-81.5, 95 % CI) had a family history of being overweight; 2.3 % (0.1-4.5, 95 % CI) were overweight and 1.7 % (0.0-3.6 95 %CI) were obese. More than half of the children had hightotal cholesterol levels (53.2 %; 45.8-60.695 %CI) and LDL (57.2 %; 49.8-64.6 95 % CI). Non-HDL cholesterol was found to be increased by 46.8 % (39.4-54.2 95 % CI). There was a significant difference between genders for triglyceridemia (females: 94.1 mg/dL; 87.0-101.2 mg/dL 95 % CI; males: 81.7 mg/dL; 75.0-88.5 mg/dL 95 % CI; p=0.005) and low physical activity (females: 83.8 %; 73.5-94.5 % 95 % CI; males: 44.2 %; 45.4-66.6 % 95 % CI; p=0,0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiovascular risk factors in these schoolchildren, even in those who were not obese, justify the need for the early detection of these factors as well as their strict controlto reduce their impact on people's future quality of life.
Universidad de San Buenaventura, Seccional Cartagena, Colombia. alinorala@gmail.com
Alicia N
AN
Alayón
Raimundo
R
Castro-Orozco
Luis
L
Gaviria-Esquivia
Milena
M
Fernández-Franco
Lourdes
L
Benítez-Peña
D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol