title: Alarming trends in ideal cardiovascular health among children and adolescents in Beijing, China, 2004 to 2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The American Heart Association's 2020 Strategic Goals have defined a new concept of cardiovascular health for adults and children, emphasizing the importance of primordial prevention of cardiovascular diseases. However, detailed data on the trends of ideal cardiovascular health in Chinese children and adolescents are sparse.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 5596 children and adolescents (aged 6-18years) were selected from two cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2004 and 2014, respectively. Cardiovascular health behaviors (smoking, body mass index, physical activity, and diet) and factors (total cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose) were evaluated, and only participants with information on all 7 metrics (n=4309) were included for the cardiovascular score analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 2004-2014, ideal levels of almost all the seven metrics decreased, except for a marked increase in physical activity (boys: 23.0% vs 52.8%; girls: 16.2% vs 41.0%). Overall, only 19.5% of boys and 22.0% of girls had ideal cardiovascular health (score≥6) in 2004, which worsened in 2014 (boys: 9.8%; girls: 16.0%). The prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health factors also declined, but the prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health behaviors increased. Being a girl and having a younger age (aged 6-11years) were associated with higher prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health. Higher family income and parental education were associated with a higher prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adverse trends in ideal cardiovascular health were observed among Chinese children and adolescents during 2004-2014. Effective intervention programs, in particular targeting children and adolescents, need to be developed to promote cardiovascular health in China.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China; Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hongbo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yinkun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Junting
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Dongqing
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Guimin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
authors.forename: Shengxu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Systems oriented Global Childhood Obesity Intervention Program, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Youfa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China; Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China. Electronic address: jiemi@vip.163.com.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000068476:Beijing / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Adolescents; Children; China; Ideal cardiovascular health; Trends