title: Serum C-reactive protein levels and body mass index in children and adolescents with CHD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of overweight in children with CHD is about 26.9%. Increase in adipose tissue is related to the secretion of proinflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein. Assuming that children with CHD are exposed to other inherent risk factors for heart disease, our objective was to evaluate the correlation between levels of C-reactive protein and body mass index in children and adolescents with CHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study with 377 children and adolescents with CHD in a clinical setting of a reference hospital was carried out. C-reactive protein data were collected after 12 hours of fasting. Nutritional status was classified according to body mass index. The patients were divided into three groups: cyanotic, acyanotic, and minimal heart defects (controls).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 9.9±4.2 years, and 53.6% of the sample included males. The cyanotic group represented 22.3%, acyanotic 42.2%, and minimal defects 35.5% of the sample. The average body mass index percentile was 57.23±32.06. The median values of C-reactive protein were as follows: cyanotic 0.340, acyanotic with clinical repercussion 0.203, and minimal defects 0.128. There was a significant difference between the minimal defects and the cyanotic groups (p=0.023). There was a significant correlation between C-reactive protein and body mass index percentile (r=0.293, p<0.01). C-reactive protein levels were higher in girls (p=0.034). There were no significant correlations between C-reactive protein and age or birth weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The correlation between body mass index percentile and C-reactive protein was confirmed in this population. The prevention of overweight is paramount to avoid overlapping modifiable risk factors to those already inherent to the CHD.
authors.affiliation: 1Instituto de Cardiologia/Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia - IC/FUC,Porto Alegre - Rio Grande do Sul,Brasil.
authors.forename: Maíra Ribas
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Goulart
authors.affiliation: 1Instituto de Cardiologia/Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia - IC/FUC,Porto Alegre - Rio Grande do Sul,Brasil.
authors.forename: Daniela Schneid
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Schuh
authors.affiliation: 1Instituto de Cardiologia/Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia - IC/FUC,Porto Alegre - Rio Grande do Sul,Brasil.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.affiliation: 1Instituto de Cardiologia/Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia - IC/FUC,Porto Alegre - Rio Grande do Sul,Brasil.
authors.forename: Sandra Mari
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Barbiero
authors.affiliation: 1Instituto de Cardiologia/Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia - IC/FUC,Porto Alegre - Rio Grande do Sul,Brasil.
authors.forename: Lucia Campos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Pellanda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords:  congenital; C-reactive protein; Heart defects; body mass index; central obesity; risk factors