Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Sports Medicine logoLink to British Journal of Sports Medicine
. 1990 Mar;24(1):61–66. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.24.1.61

Estimation of coronary risk factors in British schoolchildren: a preliminary report.

N Armstrong 1, J Balding 1, P Gentle 1, B Kirby 1
PMCID: PMC1478754  PMID: 2350671

Abstract

Surveys from several countries have identified the presence of risk factors known to be associated with coronary heart disease in children. Data on the distribution of coronary risk factor variables in British children are scarce. This study was therefore designed to test the feasibility of collecting coronary risk factor data from British children and to conduct a preliminary examination of the problem. One hundred and seven children (mean age 12.8 yr) had their height, weight, triceps skinfold and blood pressure checked. Blood samples for cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol analysis were obtained from 93 children. Peak VO2 was determined on 48 children, 76 children had their daily activity monitored and 59 children's stage of sexual maturity was assessed. The boys' peak VO2 was significantly higher than the girls, whether expressed in l.min-1 (p less than 0.05) or ml.kg.-1min-1 (p less than 0.01). No other significant differences (p greater than 0.05) between the sexes were detected. The results indicate that children have relatively high serum cholesterol levels (boys 4.58 +/- 0.79; girls 4.72 +/- 0.80 mmol.l-1). The willingness and enthusiasm of the children, parents and schools to take part in the study clearly demonstrated the feasibility of a large scale study being successfully pursued in the United Kingdom.

Full text

PDF
63

Images in this article

62Figure 1
on p.62

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Armstrong N., Davies B. The prevalence of coronary risk factors in children--a review. Acta Paediatr Belg. 1980 Oct-Dec;33(4):209–217. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Blank D. W., Hoeg J. M., Kroll M. H., Ruddel M. E. The method of determination must be considered in interpreting blood cholesterol levels. JAMA. 1986 Nov 28;256(20):2867–2870. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cooper D. M., Weiler-Ravell D., Whipp B. J., Wasserman K. Aerobic parameters of exercise as a function of body size during growth in children. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol. 1984 Mar;56(3):628–634. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1984.56.3.628. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Friedewald W. T., Levy R. I., Fredrickson D. S. Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Clin Chem. 1972 Jun;18(6):499–502. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Gilliam T. B., Freedson P. S., Geenen D. L., Shahraray B. Physical activity patterns determined by heart rate monitoring in 6-7 year-old children. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1981;13(1):65–67. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Glueck C. J. Pediatric primary prevention of atherosclerosis. N Engl J Med. 1986 Jan 16;314(3):175–177. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198601163140309. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Keys A., Aravanis C., Blackburn H. W., Van Buchem F. S., Buzina R., Djordjević B. D., Dontas A. S., Fidanza F., Karvonen M. J., Kimura N. Epidemiological studies related to coronary heart disease: characteristics of men aged 40-59 in seven countries. Acta Med Scand Suppl. 1966;460:1–392. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Krahenbuhl G. S., Skinner J. S., Kohrt W. M. Developmental aspects of maximal aerobic power in children. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 1985;13:503–538. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Lopes-Virella M. F., Stone P., Ellis S., Colwell J. A. Cholesterol determination in high-density lipoproteins separated by three different methods. Clin Chem. 1977 May;23(5):882–884. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. McGill H. C., Jr George Lyman Duff memorial lecture. Persistent problems in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis. 1984 Sep-Oct;4(5):443–451. doi: 10.1161/01.atv.4.5.443. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Newman W. P., 3rd, Freedman D. S., Voors A. W., Gard P. D., Srinivasan S. R., Cresanta J. L., Williamson G. D., Webber L. S., Berenson G. S. Relation of serum lipoprotein levels and systolic blood pressure to early atherosclerosis. The Bogalusa Heart Study. N Engl J Med. 1986 Jan 16;314(3):138–144. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198601163140302. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Orchard T. J., Rodgers M., Hedley A. J., Mitchell J. R. Changes in blood lipids and blood pressure during adolescence. Br Med J. 1980 Jun 28;280(6231):1563–1567. doi: 10.1136/bmj.280.6231.1563. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Sady S. P. Cardiorespiratory exercise training in children. Clin Sports Med. 1986 Jul;5(3):493–514. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Seliger V., Trefny Z., Bartunková S., Pauer M. The habitual activity and physical fitness of 12 year old boys. Acta Paediatr Belg. 1974;28 Suppl:54–59. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Tell G. S., Tuomilehto J., Epstein F. H., Strasser T. Studies of atherosclerosis determinants and precursors during childhood and adolescence. Bull World Health Organ. 1986;64(4):595–605. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Tsanakas J. N., Bannister O. M., Boon A. W., Milner R. D. The 'Sport-tester': a device for monitoring the free running test. Arch Dis Child. 1986 Sep;61(9):912–914. doi: 10.1136/adc.61.9.912. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Voller R. D., Jr, Strong W. B. Pediatric aspects of atherosclerosis. Am Heart J. 1981 Jun;101(6):815–836. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(81)90621-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Wilmore J. H., McNamara J. J. Prevalence of coronary heart disease risk factors in boys, 8 to 12 years of age. J Pediatr. 1974 Apr;84(4):527–533. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(74)80672-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Wynder E. L., Williams C. L., Laakso K., Levenstein M. Screening for risk factors for chronic disease in children from fifteen countries. Prev Med. 1981 Mar;10(2):121–132. doi: 10.1016/0091-7435(81)90068-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Sports Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES