Distribution curve of waist-to-height ratio and its association with blood pressure among children and adolescents: study in a large population in an eastern coastal province,China

Several studies have suggested that waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) is an accurate and easier index for evaluating abdominal obesity in both children and adults. The present study examined the distribution of WHtR and its association with blood pressure (BP) levels among children and adolescents in a large population in Shandong, China. A total of 38,810 students (19,453 boys and 19,357 girls) aged 7–17 years participated in this study. Height, waist circumference (WC), and BP of all subjects were measured, and WHtR was calculated. Abdominal obesity was defined as WHtR ≥0.5; high BP status was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥95th percentile for age and gender. Overall, 16.45 % (95%CI: 15.93–16.97) and 7.80 % (95%CI: 7.42–8.17) of boys and girls had a WHtR ≥0.5. WHtR was positively correlated with SBP and DBP in both boys and girls. The mean values of SBP and DBP for both boys and girls were all significantly higher in the WHtR ≥0.5 group than in the WHtR<0.5 group. Z-scores of BP and the prevalence of high BP increased with WHtR. The prevalence of high BP increased from 10.61 (boys) and 9.64 % (girls) in the WHtR <0.34 group to 55.11 (boys) and 51.97 % (girls) in the WHtR ≥0.58 group, an increase of 4.2- and 4.4-times. We conclude that children and adolescents with high WHtR might have an increased risk of elevated BP. These findings highlight the importance of the prevention of abdominal obesity in order to prevent future-related problems such as hypertension in children and adolescents.     

Study of overweight and obesity in a population of urban school children in Sousse, Tunisia]

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of obesity and overweight and their relationship with cardiovascular disease risk factors. METHODS: Epidemiological survey based on a representative sample of 1569 urban school children of Sousse, Tunisia. RESULTS: Overweight (BMI > or = 25) was significantly higher in girls (16.1%) than in boys (11.6%); (chi 2 = 8.2; p = 0.004). Obesity (BMI > or = 30) was slightly higher in girls (3.7%) than in boys (2.7%); (chi 2 = 0.89; p = 0.34). Girls had significantly higher BMI, diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels than boys who had however significantly higher levels of systolic blood pressure. Overweight was significantly higher in children who did not practice sport at school: 22 versus 13.1% (p < 0.002), in groups of youngsters who were not affiliated to school sport or city associations. Overweight children had a significantly higher levels of cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and means of systolic and diastolic blood pressures. CONCLUSION: These results will serve to set up a regional program of health promotion at schools.     

Distribution of skinfold thickness and blood pressure among children and adolescents in Shandong, China

This article reported the distribution of skinfold thickness (SFT) and blood pressure (BP) among children and adolescents in Shandong, China. A total of 8568 students (4333 boys and 4235 girls) aged 7-18 years participated in this study. Triceps and subscapular SFT and BP of all subjects were measured, the sum of Triceps and subscapular SFT (SSFT) was used as an indicator of the overall SFT. The overall prevalence of relative high BP was 24.07% for boys and 22.36% for girls. The prevalence of relative high BP was increasing with SSFT percentiles, this trend was obvious especially in upper percentiles of SSFT. The prevalence of relative high BP increased from 13.27% (boys) and 13.33% (girls) in <5th SSFT percentile group to 55.50% (boys) and 48.17% (girls) in ≥95th SSFT percentile group, which increased by 3.2 and 2.6 times. There is a higher level of SSFT and higher prevalence of relative high BP among children and adolescents in Shandong, China.     

Blood pressure among children and adolescents with normal weight but large waist circumference in Shandong,China

The present study examined the blood pressure (BP) characteristics of normal weight children and adolescents with a large waist circumference (WC) in a large population in Shandong, China. A total of 38,826 students (19,460 boys and 19,366 girls) aged 7–17 years participated in this study. Height, weight, WC, and BP of all subjects were measured. Normal weight was defined by the international cutoffs of body mass index; central obesity was defined as WC ≥90th percentile; relatively high BP status was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥95th percentile for age and gender. And 5.06 and 8.19 % of the normal weight boys and girls had central obesity. The Z-scores of SBP, DBP and the prevalence of relatively high BP for both boys and girls were all significantly higher in the normal weight with central obesity groups than in the normal weight with normal WC groups. Conclusion: These observations highlight that normal weight children and adolescents with central obesity might have an increased risk of elevated BP.     

新疆伊犁地区2438例哈萨克族儿童血压现况分析

目的：了解新疆伊犁地区哈萨克族儿童血压水平和高血压的发生状况及影响因素。方法：2009年5~6月采用随机整群抽样方法,抽取新疆伊犁地区哈萨克族学龄儿童2438例,进行身高、体重、腰围、臀围、皮褶厚度、血压测量,并计算体质指数（BMI）。结果：2438名儿童收缩压（SBP）平均水平为94±13 mm Hg,舒张压（DBP）平均水平为60±9 mm Hg,低于国内同年龄段汉族平均水平;检出高血压儿童138名,患病率5.66%（138/2438）,其中男童患病率4.38% （54/1232）,女童患病率6.97%（84/1206）,女童患病率高于男童（P<0.05）;血压及高血压患病率与BMI、腰围、臀围、皮褶厚度、性别、年龄均呈正相关。结论新疆伊犁地区哈萨克族儿童血压平均水平较国内儿童低;女童高血压患病率高于男童;肥胖与哈萨克族儿童高血压患病率密切相关。     

Role of exercise in the prevention of obesity and hemodynamic abnormalities in adolescents

Background:  Poor physical activity plays a key role in the development of obesity. Little is known, however, about how much or the level of intensity of exercise that is needed to prevent obesity and hemodynamic abnormalities in adolescents.
Methods and results:  Height, bodyweight, resting heart rate (HR), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured in 17 523 male and 16 906 female high school students. Self-reported exercise intensity was related to percentage of overweight (POW), diastolic blood pressure, and resting HR in boys, and to bodyweight and resting HR in girls. Self-reported exercise amount was associated with POW, diastolic blood pressure, and resting HR in both boys and girls. Also, high intensity or adequate amount of exercise was associated with a lower prevalence of obesity and resting tachycardia in both sexes, and slightly associated with the prevalence of systolic high blood pressure in boys.
Conclusion:  Both intensity and amount of exercise are associated with the prevalence of obesity and hemodynamic abnormalities in adolescents.     

Obesity among Navajo adolescents. Relationship to dietary intake and blood pressure.

We evaluated anthropometric measurements, blood pressures, dietary intakes, and self-perceived body image of 352 Navajo Indian adolescents. Thirty-three percent of the girls and 25% of the boys were obese according to a body mass index criterion. Navajo youth tended to have larger skinfolds than their white (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey II) and Mexican American (Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) counterparts, with the greater difference in the subscapular skinfolds indicating a greater amount of truncal rather than peripheral fat. When divided into lower, middle, and upper thirds of body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were positively related with increasing body mass index for girls, and systolic blood pressure and body mass index were related among boys. The high prevalence of obese adolescents and the apparent effect of the increased weight on blood pressure in this population indicate the need for interventions aimed at improving dietary habits and fitness levels.     

Descriptive epidemiology of small screen recreation among Australian adolescents

AIM: To describe the epidemiology of small screen recreation (SSR) that is: television, computer, video, and DVD use among school students aged 11-15 years in New South Wales, Australia. METHODS: Cross-sectional representative population survey (n=2750) of 45 primary and 48 secondary schools in rural and urban areas. Self-reported time spent in SSR was categorised according to national guidelines into less than 2 h per day (low users) or 2 or more hours per day (high users). RESULTS: Of primary and secondary school students, 53% and 72%, respectively, were high users of SSR. Boys spent significantly more time in SSR and were more likely to be high users of SSR compared with girls. For primary students, rural boys had a higher prevalence of high SSR use than urban boys (odds ratio (OR) 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-3.5), while overweight girls had a higher prevalence than healthy-weight girls (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.8). For secondary students, rural boys had a lower prevalence of high SSR use than urban boys (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.6), and girls from high SES backgrounds had a lower prevalence than girls from low socio-economic status backgrounds (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.3-1.0). CONCLUSION: The majority of school students in New South Wales exceed the national guidelines for SSR. Reducing the time spent in SSR among young people is one potential approach to increasing energy expenditure and reducing adiposity or maintaining a healthy weight. First steps for intervention strategies among school-age children to reduce SSR could include teaching awareness skills and self-monitoring techniques.     

儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征与血压相关性研究

目的 探讨儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(OSAHS)与血压的相关性。方法 纳入2012年7月至2013年7月以睡眠打鼾为主诉于上海儿童医学中心睡眠障碍诊治中心就诊的3~18岁儿童青少年,行整夜多导睡眠图(PSG)监测并测量睡前收缩压(SBP)和舒张压(DBP)。根据PSG监测结果分为非OSAHS组和OSAHS组,OSAHS组根据呼吸暂停低通气指数和最低血氧饱和度分为OSAHS轻、中和重度亚组。依据2010年中国儿童青少年血压参照标准诊断高血压。计算收缩压指数(SBPI)和舒张压指数(DBPI)。分析不同程度的OSAHS与血压的相关性。 结果 385例研究对象进入分析,平均年龄(5.5±2.3)岁,男262例,女123例。SBP (100.6 ±10.4) mmHg,DBP (63.2±8.5) mmHg,符合高血压诊断122例(31.7%),其中严重高血压42例(10.9%)。非OSAHS组261例(67.8%);OSAHS组124例,其中轻、中和重度亚组分别有54、43和27例。BMI、BMI-Z评分、颈围、超重及肥胖患病率指标OSAHS组显著高于非OSAHS组。①OSAHS组SBP显著高于非OSAHS组,但调整年龄、性别和BMI-Z评分后SBP的组间差异无统计学意义。OSAHS轻、中和重度亚组SBP和DBP差异有统计学意义 (SBP: F=3.46,P=0.034;DBP: F=4.27,P=0.016),在调整了年龄、性别和BMI-Z评分后SBP和DBP的组间差异仍有统计学意义(P<0.05)。②非OSAHS组和OSAHS组SBPI和DBPI差异无统计学意义;OSAHS轻、中和重度亚组SBPI和DBPI差异有统计学意义(SBPI:F=2.54,P=0.046; DBPI: F=3.25,P=0.042)。③OSAHS轻、中和重度亚组高血压检出率差异有统计学意义,调整了年龄、性别以及BMI-Z评分后,OSAHS重度亚组严重高血压的风险显著高于轻度亚组,OR=5.79 (95%CI: 1.45~23.11)。 结论 鼾症患儿高血压检出率显著高于正常人群,其中重度OSAHS患儿高血压及严重高血压的发生风险最高,提示应密切监测睡眠相关呼吸障碍患儿的血压。     

Serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and blood pressure levels in 15-year-old adolescents in eastern Finland

Serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and blood pressure were studied among 15-year-old school children in Eastern Finland. The mean serum total cholesterol was 4.47 mmol/l in boys and 4.86 mmol/l in girls; mean HDL-cholesterol was 1.29 mmol/l and 1.46 mmol/l, respectively. The mean blood pressure was 135/65 mmHg in boys and 126/67 mmHg in girls. Obese children had higher blood pressure and lower HDL-cholesterol levels than others. Among boys sexual maturation decreased the HDL-cholesterol level. Children whose parents had histories of cardiovascular disease did not have higher cholesterol or higher blood pressure levels than other children. Children at high risk apparently cannot be screened on the basis of parents' history of cardiovascular diseases.     

��������6~18���ͯѪ֬�����ֿ�����

?? AbstractObjectiveThe present study was designed to understand the prevalence of dyslipidemia in children aged 6 to 18 years in Beijing area. MethodsCluster random sampling methods were used in the investigation.During April to October in 2004,our epidemiological survey group developed field investigations to 19,593 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years in Beijing area.Fasting capillary blood total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) were detected. ResultsTotal prevalence rate of hyperlipidemia in Beijing children was 9.61 percent.About 1.21 percent children had higher TC than normal value??8.79 percent had high TG level.Only 0.39 percent people had both high TC and TG level.The prevalence rate of urban children was 10.55 percent,10.16 percent in boys and 10.94 percent in girls.The prevalence rate of dyslipidemia in countryside was 8.62 percent,6.11 percent in boys and 11.18 percent in girls. ConclusionThe prevalence rate of children hyperlipidemia in Beijing significantly increases compared to previous studies.This came with epidemiological characteristics of urban??countryside,gender or age differences. KeywordsLipid;Children and adolescents;Prevalence rate ???? ek2007-02-0101-02 ????????6~18????????????????? ???1?????2???????1 ??????????????п????????(H030930030530??H030930030031) 1.?????????????????????100034??2.????????о?????????100020 E??mail:junbaodu@ht.rol.cn.net ???????????? ???????????????в?????飬?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????2004??04??2004??10??????в???????飬???????7????????????19593??6~18???????????????????飬????????????????(TC)?????????(TG)???м??????????????6~18???????????????????????к???????в???о??? ???????????????????????????9.61%(1874/19501)??????TC??????????????1.21%(236/19501)??TG???????8.79%(1714/19501)??TC??TG?????????0.39%(76/19501)????????????????????10.55%(1053/9978)????????????10.16%(503/4950)???????????10.94%(550/5028)??????????ò???????8.62%(821/9523)????????????6.11%(294/4811)???????????11.18%(527/4712)?? ????????ж???????????????????????????????????????????????в???????? ??????????????????? A survey on dyslipidemia of 6~18??year old children in Beijing area. LIU Ying,MI Jie,DU Jun??bao.Department of Pediatrics,Peking University First Hospital,Beijing 100034,China AbstractObjectiveThe present study was designed to understand the prevalence of dyslipidemia in children aged 6 to 18 years in Beijing area. MethodsCluster random sampling methods were used in the investigation.During April to October in 2004,our epidemiological survey group developed field investigations to 19,593 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years in Beijing area.Fasting capillary blood total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) were detected. ResultsTotal prevalence rate of hyperlipidemia in Beijing children was 9.61 percent.About 1.21 percent children had higher TC than normal value??8.79 percent had high TG level.Only 0.39 percent people had both high TC and TG level.The prevalence rate of urban children was 10.55 percent,10.16 percent in boys and 10.94 percent in girls.The prevalence rate of dyslipidemia in countryside was 8.62 percent,6.11 percent in boys and 11.18 percent in girls. ConclusionThe prevalence rate of children hyperlipidemia in Beijing significantly increases compared to previous studies.This came with epidemiological characteristics of urban??countryside,gender or age differences.     

全国0～6 岁儿童单纯性肥胖流行病学研究

目的 本研究旨在了解自1996年第二次全国儿童期单纯肥胖症流行学研究后10年来我国儿童期单纯肥胖症的发展特征和趋势;复核本工作组研究初期所确定的工作假设和所选择的指示参数的科学效应;修订本工作组所制定的中国儿童单纯肥胖症控制方案的科学性和可操作性.方法 选择沈阳、济南、青岛、郑州、长沙、重庆、西安、成都、深圳、海口、文昌11个城市,采取随机整群抽样的方法,共调查0～6岁儿童84 766名,代表人口1 414 220名儿童.儿童肥胖的判定标准为世界卫生组织(WHO)身高标准体重值,采用标准差计分法(Z-score),体重高于中位数1个标准差为超重、高于2个标准差为肥胖.测量体重、身长/身高、3岁以上儿童的腰围、臀围、大腿围及血压.计数、计量数据分别采用χ2检验和t检验进行分析,显著性检验水平为0.05.结果 (1)本次调查0～6 岁儿童肥胖、超重总检出率分别为7.2%、19.8%,其中男童肥胖、超重检出率分别为8.9%、22.2%,女童肥胖、超重检出率分别为5.3%、17.0%.较1996年分别增长了3.6、4.7倍,年均增长速度分别为156%和52%.肥胖、超重检出率北部高于西部,中南部居中;男童高于女童.肥胖、超重比仍处于高危水平.(2)出生后1个月儿童的平均体块指数(BMI)值＞16.5,于1个月时BMI均值达最高(17.8),之后逐渐降低,5.5岁时降至最低点(平均值15.7),然后随年龄上升,但最高BMI均值未超过18.(3)本次调查中,脂肪重聚年龄为5.5岁,较1996年后移半年.出生后前半年的脂肪重聚比(ARR1)为0.56,出生后半年(ARR2)为0.97,均处于可接受水平,且明显低于10年前的水平.(4)西部地区儿童由于身高不足,可以出现"假性超重".这既掩盖了早期线性生长不足和营养不良,又掩盖了可能产生的肥胖.(5)本次调查肥胖儿童血压高于第95百分位数的比例高达12.9%,其腰臀比大于本工作组设置的1.0的危险警戒水平者占17.2%.(6)本工作组所设立的BMI参照值及肥胖筛查界值点、脂肪重聚比/年龄等参照值及界值点、腰臀比参照值及界值点等指示参数在现场筛查和指示健康危险因素等方面是适宜、科学、实用的.结论 近10年儿童期单纯肥胖症检出率和肥胖儿童高血压率增加明显,且存在心血管高危状态,应加强儿童期单纯肥胖症的早期预防控制.     

血清谷丙转氨酶与儿童超重、肥胖的关系

目的：探讨血清谷丙转氨酶（ALT）与儿童超重、肥胖的关系。方法：对年龄7～18岁的2889例正常儿童及702例超重、肥胖儿童的资料进行分析,测量身高、体重、腰围、血压,检测空腹血糖、血脂、ALT、胰岛素等生化指标,计算胰岛素抵抗指数。结果：男童ALT水平高于女童。随着体重指数（BMI）的增加,男女童正常组、超重组、肥胖组ALT水平均逐渐增加。ALT与BMI、腰围、甘油三酯、胰岛素抵抗指数等相关。在超重、肥胖儿童中,男童ALT升高组BMI、腰围、血压、甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白、胰岛素抵抗指数均较ALT正常组高（P<0.05）;女童ALT升高组腰围、血压、胰岛素抵抗指数高于ALT正常组,而高密度脂蛋白降低（P<0.05）。结论：ALT与儿童超重、肥胖及其引起代谢异常如血脂异常、胰岛素抵抗相关。     

Serum Total Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Levels in 15-Year-Old Adolescents in Eastern Finland

ABSTRACT. Serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and blood pressure were studied among 15-year-old school children in Eastern Finland. The mean serum total cholesterol was 4.47 mmol/l in boys and 4.86 mmol/l in girls; mean HDL-cholesterol was 1.29 mmol/l and 1.46 mmol/l, respectively. The mean blood pressure was 135/65 mmHg in boys and 126/67 mmHg in girls. Obese children had higher blood pressure and lower HDL-cholesterol levels than others. Among boys sexual maturation decreased the HDL-cholesterol level. Children whose parents had histories of cardiovascular disease did not have higher cholesterol or higher blood pressure levels than other children. Children at high risk apparently cannot be screened on the basis of parents' history of cardiovascular diseases.     

Prevalence of anemia among urban school children of Punjab

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of anemia among urban school children of Punjab. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Urban schools of Ludhiana, Punjab. SUBJECTS: Two thousand school children of 5-15 years age. METHODS: Relevant history was taken and a complete physical examination done in all the children. Hemoglobin was estimated using cynmethemoglobin method and peripheral blood smears were also examined. Anemia was diagnosed when hemoglobin was less than 11 g/dl for children of 5-6 years age and 12 g/dl for more than 6 years age. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of anemia was 51.5%. Girls had a significantly higher prevalence of anemia except at 5 years and 10-12 years age. More menarcheal girls were anemic as compared to non-menarcheal ones. The prevalence of anemia was high (38%) even in higher socioeconomic groups. Nearly half (47.6%) of well nourished children were anemic. The mean Hb also was lower than expected normal values in both nutritional groups. Compared to non-vegetarians (38%), more vegetarians (65.9%) were anemic. The commonest blood picture seen was microcytic hypochromic (55.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed a high prevalence of anemia among healthy urban school children of higher socio-economic classes. Vegetarians and girls, especially after menarche were more at risk to develop anemia.     

Socioeconomic and psychosocial conditions of parents and cardiovascular risk factors in their children: The Belgian Luxembourg Child Study III

Socioeconomic and psychosocial handicaps are often associated with disease. There is a large body of information on adults on such relationships, but data are sparse on children. In a cohort of 1028 boys and girls, selected at random from school classes in Province de Luxembourg, a mainly rural area of Belgium, these problems were analysed in age strata of 6-8, 8-10, 10-12 years. Participation rate was 71%. Information was collected from questionnaires,. Anthropometric variables, blood pressure and glucose as well as cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin were measured in the children and related to the psychosocial and socioeconomic factors, organized into rural, psychosocial, socioeconomic and alcohol/smoking clusters of observations. Rural: Duration of living in the area of the child and parents correlated with diastolic blood pressure, particularly in boys (p < 0.01). Psychosocial: Housewives (p = 0.002) and their children (p = 0.002) had higher body mass indexes (BMI) than other mothers and their children. Sons of housewives also had higher blood pressure (systolic, p = 0.0007, diastolic, p = 0.007). Socioeconomic: Socioeconomic factors of parents (profession, unemployment) played relatively minor roles. Alcohol/smoking: Alcohol consumption was related to skinfold thickness in boys (p = 0.022), but not in girls. Girls, but not boys, with smoking parents had higher BMI (p=0.014). Multiple regression analyses suggested that psychosocial factors, such as housewives as mothers of large families, may be important for associations with cardiovascular risk factors in their children. There were apparent differences in the findings between girls and boys, suggesting that boys are more vulnerable to the impacts of the factors analysed.     

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in secondary school adolescents in Beijing, China

AIM: To estimate the prevalence and distribution of the metabolic syndrome and to determine the risk factors associated with the metabolic syndrome in secondary school adolescents. METHODS: In 2006, we conducted a school-based survey in Beijing, China. Questionnaire data, anthropometric, blood pressure, and biochemical measurements were available for 2020 adolescents aged 14-16 years. The metabolic syndrome was assessed using the National Cholesterol Education Program's (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) criteria modified for age. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among adolescents was 3.3%. In Beijing, 4.2% of boys and 2.5% of girls were affected (p<0.05). The syndrome was present in 28.1% of obese adolescents compared with 6.0% of overweight and 0.2% of normal status (p<0.001). Abdominal obesity and elevated blood pressure were the most common components of the metabolic syndrome in boys, and elevated triglyceride (TG) and abdominal obesity were the most common in girls. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was influenced by body mass index (BMI) status, father's educational degree and pubertal development. CONCLUSION: The metabolic syndrome and its components are frequent in overweight and obese adolescents in Beijing. Early identification and treatment of these risk factors may help target intervention to improve future cardiovascular health.     

Longitudinal Assessment of Blood Pressure in School-Aged Children: A 3-Year Follow-Up Study

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of abnormal blood pressure in a population of school children during a 3-year follow-up period and its relationship with obesity. Anthropometric and blood pressure data were collected from a population of Italian school children during three consecutive years. During each year blood pressure measurements were repeated three times, at intervals of 1 week. A total of 564 school-children [311 boys; mean (SD) age 8.8 ± 1.4 years] were recruited. During each year, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased from visit 1 to visit 3 (p < 0.001). This was associated with a decline in the percentage of prehypertension/hypertension from visit 1 to visit 3. An abnormal blood pressure value in at least one study visit was found in 8.8–17 % of children, whereas the prevalence of hypertension at all three study visits was between 5.2 and 7.8 %, and that of prehypertension at all three visits was between 2.8 and 3.8 %. High blood pressure was more frequent in obese children. In this population of school children the percentage of prehypertension/hypertension remarkably varied when based on one versus three annual assessments, thus emphasizing the importance of repeated measurement before making a diagnosis of abnormal blood pressure. Adiposity was confirmed to be a determinant of high blood pressure.     

The prevalence of anemia in adolescents: a study from Turkey

A cross-sectional method was used to study a group of 400 high school students in Kocaeli, Turkey, aged 14 to 16 years, identified among 17,812 high school students. Students from 10 high schools were selected using a random sampling method. Whole blood counts were performed as a screening test for anemia. Serum ferritin levels and, when necessary, hemoglobin electrophoresis were determined for anemic students. Iron medication was prescribed for iron deficiency and genetic counseling was given to adolescents with thalassemia trait. Out of 338 participating students (mean age, 14.72+/-0.71 y), anemia (hemoglobin <12 g/dL for girls and <13 g/dL for boys) was detected in 17/174 girls (9.7%) and 6/164 boys (3.6%). Iron deficiency anemia was detected in 20/23 (86.9%) of anemic children [15/17 (88.2%) girls and 4/6 (66.6%) boys]. Of 23 students with anemia 2 had beta-thalassemia trait and 2 had both iron deficiency, and beta-thalassemia trait. Etiology of anemia could not be defined in 1 student. The prevalence of adolescent anemia in Kocaeli is almost equal to that in developed countries.     

Prevalence of components of the metabolic syndrome in schoolchildren with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective: To examine the prevalence of components of the metabolic syndrome (MS) other than hyperglycemia at diagnosis in schoolchildren with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Design: The study involved 112 Japanese schoolchildren, 45 males and 67 females aged 12.9 ± 1.5 yr, who were diagnosed as having T2DM. The body weight, blood pressure and fasting serum triglyceride (TG), and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol cholesterol (HDL‐C) levels were also measured at diagnosis. The criteria adopted for the diagnosis of MS were as follows; i.e., TG ≥150 mg/dL, HDL‐C <40 mg/dL, systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg, and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥85 mmHg. Obesity was defined as percent overweight ≥20.0%. Results: As much as 83.0% of the patients had obesity. The prevalence of increased TG was 33.0% and that of decreased HDL‐C was 21.4% among the patients. Elevated blood pressure was identified in 11.6% of the patients. Of the total, 15.2% of the patients had no other components of MS besides hyperglycemia; 49.1% had only one other component, which was obesity in the majority; 17.0% had two other components of MS besides hyperglycemia, which were obesity and elevated TG in the majority; 18.8% of the patients had three or more components of MS besides hyperglycemia. Conclusions: We found a high prevalence of other components of MS besides hyperglycemia in the patients even at the time of diagnosis. Early detection of other components of MS would appear to be of importance for preventing the development of cardiovascular disease in children with T2DM.