Abstract

JAUREGUI, Alfonso; FAJARDO, Esperanza; CASTRO, Jairo  and  CAMARGO, Yeimi. Carotid intima-media thickness in school children and its relationship with cardiovascular risk factors. Rev. Colomb. Cardiol. [online]. 2016, vol.23, n.3, pp.237-241. ISSN 0120-5633.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rccar.2015.10.007.

Objetive: To determine the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness in a school children population of the city of Bogotá. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study including all students at the selected schools of the convenience sample. The sample gathered 94 pupils (57 girls and 37 boys) of ages 13 ± 1.54. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and ultrasound measurement of carotid intima-media thickness were conducted. Data analysis was carried out by means of descriptive statistics, in so far the univariate and bivariate analysis was made with frequency distribution and contingency tables for qualitative variables and descriptive measures of central tendency and variability for quantitative variables. Results: Out of the total population, 34.79% showed excess weight according to the body mass index, 28.8% registered excess body fat, 46% had high blood pressure, of which 36.8% corresponded to early arterial hypertension and 9.2% to stage I hypertension. Average carotid intima-media thickness was 0.3163 ± 0.040 mm. A direct association was found between the carotid intima-media thickness and diastolic pressure (r = 0.193). There is a direct lineal association between the percentage of body fat and diastolic pressure (r = 0.283). Conclusion: The present study found a direct association between the carotid intima-media thickness and diastolic pressure. No statistically significant evidence was found to relate carotid intima-media thickness and obesity or excess body fat. It is very important to continue this type of study in Colombian population in order to prevent, from early stages in life, the occurrence of cerebro-cardiovascular risk factors.

Keywords : Pediatrics; cardiovascular risk factors; primary prevention; carotid arteries and ultrasound imaging.

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