Abstract
BackgroundExamining secular trends provides us with an insight into the apparent surge in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Our study presents a current and comprehensive examination of secular trends in established and novel CVD risk factors among Welsh adolescents from 2002 to 2007.
MethodsWe examined CVD risk factor data from two cross-sectional studies. The first study (73 participants; aged 12.9 ± 0.3 years) was completed during Sept-Oct, 2002. The second study (90 participants; aged 12.9 ± 0.4 years) was conducted from Sept-Oct,2007. Measurements included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), physical activity (PA), physical fitness (PF), diet, total cholesterol (TC), high-densitylipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride(TG), fibrinogen (Fg), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).
ResultsIn boys only, mean BMI and WC decreased between 2002 and 2007, but this was not significant (p ≥ .05). Generally, there were significant improvements in mean PA and PF levels, lipid profile, Fg and hs-CRP (p < .05). In 2002, 42.8 per cent of boys, and 34.2 per cent of girls, were overweight or obese; in 2007, this was 23.7 per cent and 28.9 per cent for boys and girls, respectively. More adolescents in the earlier cohort exceeded the recommended levels for lipids. This was also true for Fg and hs-CRP.
DiscussionTo our knowledge, this is the only study to examine established and novel CVD risk factor trends in Welsh schoolchildren. Despite our finding that overweight continues to be widespread in Welsh 12-13 year olds, we did not identify an increased prevalence in our later cohort. Overall, our data presented a positive trend in lipid profile, as well as Fg and hs-CRP. These improvements may be linked to improved physical activity and fitness levels observed in the 2007 cohort.
MethodsWe examined CVD risk factor data from two cross-sectional studies. The first study (73 participants; aged 12.9 ± 0.3 years) was completed during Sept-Oct, 2002. The second study (90 participants; aged 12.9 ± 0.4 years) was conducted from Sept-Oct,2007. Measurements included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), physical activity (PA), physical fitness (PF), diet, total cholesterol (TC), high-densitylipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride(TG), fibrinogen (Fg), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).
ResultsIn boys only, mean BMI and WC decreased between 2002 and 2007, but this was not significant (p ≥ .05). Generally, there were significant improvements in mean PA and PF levels, lipid profile, Fg and hs-CRP (p < .05). In 2002, 42.8 per cent of boys, and 34.2 per cent of girls, were overweight or obese; in 2007, this was 23.7 per cent and 28.9 per cent for boys and girls, respectively. More adolescents in the earlier cohort exceeded the recommended levels for lipids. This was also true for Fg and hs-CRP.
DiscussionTo our knowledge, this is the only study to examine established and novel CVD risk factor trends in Welsh schoolchildren. Despite our finding that overweight continues to be widespread in Welsh 12-13 year olds, we did not identify an increased prevalence in our later cohort. Overall, our data presented a positive trend in lipid profile, as well as Fg and hs-CRP. These improvements may be linked to improved physical activity and fitness levels observed in the 2007 cohort.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 48-48 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 29 Sept 2009 |
| Event | XXVth International Symposium of Pediatric Work Physiology: Physical Acticity and Exercise for Disabled and Healthy Children - Le Touquet Paris Plage, Paris, France Duration: 29 Sept 2009 → 3 Oct 2009 |
Conference
| Conference | XXVth International Symposium of Pediatric Work Physiology |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | Children and Exercise XXV |
| Country/Territory | France |
| City | Paris |
| Period | 29/09/09 → 3/10/09 |
