Meeting abstract

PREVENTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISKS IN SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN

Vera Musil ; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, John Davidson Rockefeller Street 4, Zagreb, Croatia
Jasmina Kovačević ; Public Health Institute of Požega-Slavonia County, Županijska 9, Požega, Croatia
Marjeta Majer ; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, John Davidson Rockefeller Street 4, Zagreb, Croatia
Vesna Jureša ; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, John Davidson Rockefeller Street 4, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension causes about 6% of all death worldwide and prevalence of hypertension is increasing
in adults and in children. It has been considered that hypertension among children has secondary
cause, mostly kidney disease, but it has been less common than the primary cause. If hypertension is detected
in children and the cause is not revealed, hypertension is considered to be primary. Elevated blood pressure
has a tendency to track from childhood to adulthood. Over time, damage to target organs, such as left ventricular
hypertrophy and carotid artery wall thickening, occur. In addition, the results of the study also pointed
to the associated risk factors such asoverweight, positive family history of cardiovascular risks, low birth
weight, eating habits with high salt intake, saturated fatty acids and sugar, alcohol consumption, tobacco
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smoking and sedentary lifestyle.
Materials and methods: Elevated blood pressurein childhood is defined according to internationally accepted
criteria and percentile distribution, by age, sex and body height,developed and published in fourth report
of the Task Force on Blood Pressure Control in Children.
Results: Using criteria published in fourth report of the Task Force on Blood Pressure Control in Children,
the results of the studies conducted among childrenand adolescents worldwide have shown prevalence of
elevated blood pressure from less than 1% to 35%. Using internationally accepted criteria, the prevalence of
elevated blood pressure in Croatia from 20.3% children in first grade, 39.5% in eighth grade of elementary
school to 56.9% in third grade of high school, has been reported.
Conclusion: The results of the studies in school children worldwide and in Croatia have point to the need of
development and implementation of preventive programs for cardiovascular risks, before acceptance of risk
behaviours. Better understanding of cardiovascular risks in school-aged children is a starting point for improvement
of knowledge about the social foundations of youngster’s health. It raises awareness of scientists
and health professionals about the high level of cardiovascular risks in school age and need for development
of evidence-based specific measures within public health policy that could help to reduce morbidity and
mortality of cardiovascular diseases in the future.

Keywords

children; adolescents; cardiovascular risks; elevated blood pressure

Hrčak ID:

198859

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/198859

Publication date:

31.12.2017.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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