title: Cardiovascular risk factors in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders and their association with disease severity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies suggest that anxiety is an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular events. However, few studies have investigated the association between cardiovascular risk factors (RF) and severity of anxiety disorders (AD) in childhood and adolescents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of cardiovascular RF in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders and their association with disease severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study assessing nutritional and anthropometric RF, as well as % body fat (BF), blood pressure (BP), physical activity level, anxiety symptoms and severity of the anxiety disorder of children and adolescents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 65 children and adolescents (8.6 } 1.7 years) took part in the study. Excess saturated fatty acid intake (52.3%), high body mass index (50.8%), high BP (50.8%) and physical inactivity (50.0%) were the most prevalent cardiovascular RF. There was a significant association between the severity of the anxiety and the presence of ≥ 6 RF per patient (p=0.026), excess abdominal body fat as assessed by waist circumference (p=0.019) and conicity index (p=0,053), and excess % BF (p=0.035). Generalized anxiety disorder was significantly associated with high BP (p=0.044).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high prevalence of cardiovascular RF was found in the present sample, and individuals with more severe anxiety had greater cardiovascular risk. The characterization of the cardiovascular risk in young populations, especially in individuals with AD who are therefore more susceptible to CVD, is crucial for the development of lifestyle interventions in these patients.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Graduation in Nutrition, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre. Food and Nutrition Research Centre, Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre/Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre.. gabicheuiche@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheuiche Pires
authors.affiliation: Food and Nutrition Research Centre, Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre/Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre. Post-Graduation Program in Medical Sciences: Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul.. fernandarockett@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Camboim Rockett
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduation Program in Medical Sciences: Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul.. gsalumjr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abrahão Salum Júnior
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre.. gmanfro@portoweb.com.br.
authors.forename: Gisele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gus Manfro
authors.affiliation: Food and Nutrition Research Centre, Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre/Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre. Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.. vlbosa.nut@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vera Lúcia
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Bosa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055105:Waist Circumference