Cardiovascular risk factors in pre-pubertal schoolchildren in Angola.
METHODS
The incidence of obesity is increasing worldwide, especially in countries with accelerated economic growth. We determined the prevalence of and associations between overweight/obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in pre-pubertal (seven- to 11-year-old) schoolchildren (both genders, n = 198) in Luanda, Angola. Biochemical (fasting blood) and clinical examinations were obtained in a single visit. Data are reported as prevalence (95% confidence intervals) and association (r, Pearson).


RESULTS
Prevalence of overweight/obesity was 17.7% (12.4- 23.0%), high blood pressure (BP > 90% percentile) was 14.6% (9.7-19.5%), elevated glucose level was 16.7% (11.5-21.9%) and total cholesterol level > 170 mg/dl (4.4 mmol/l) was 69.2% (62.8-75.6%). Significant associations between body mass index (BMI) and systolic and diastolic BP (r = 0.46 and 0.40, respectively; p < 0.05) were found. No association between BMI and elevated glucose or cholesterol levels was found.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was high in pre-pubertal schoolchildren in Angola and fat accumulation was directly associated with blood pressure increase but not with other cardiovascular risk factors.
Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Espírito Santo, Brazil; Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Medicine, Agostinho Neto University, Luanda, Angola.
Amílcar B
AB
Silva
Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Medicine, Agostinho Neto University, Luanda, Angola.
Daniel P
DP
Capingana
Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Medicine, Agostinho Neto University, Luanda, Angola.
Pedro
P
Magalhães
Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Medicine, Agostinho Neto University, Luanda, Angola.
Mauer A
MA
Gonçalves
Department of Public Health, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Espírito Santo, Brazil.
Maria Del Carmen B
MD
Molina
Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Espírito Santo, Brazil.
Sërgio L
SL
Rodrigues
Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Espírito Santo, Brazil.
Marcelo P
MP
Baldo
Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Medicine, Agostinho Neto University, Luanda, Angola.
Miguel S
MS
Mateus
Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Espírito Santo, Brazil.
Josë Geraldo
JG
Mill
D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000810:Angola; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose