Changes in the Cardiovascular Status of Children Brought Up during the Economic Crisis Decade in Greece. Preliminary Results from a 10-year Follow-up Study
23rd Department of Pediatrics, Attikon University Hospital, Athens Medical School, Greece
Background: Obesity and arterial hypertension in children represent well recognised risk factors for future cardiovascular events. Although economic crisis negatively impacts cardiovascular disease in adults, its influence in children is debatable.
Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the cardiovascular status of young adults who had been also evaluated 10 years ago as children at the beginning of Greek economic crisis.
Methods: 57 children mean age 9.3±2 years were evaluated regarding obesity, blood pressure (SBP/DBP), aortic stiffness (PWV), lipid profile and sports activity before the initiation of economic crisis. They were re-evaluated after 10 years, while economic status has been improved. they were characterised as: a. normal (BMI<85th percentile or <25), overweight (BMI=85th-94th percentile or 25-29), obese (BMI≥95th percentile or ≥30) and b. with optimal SBP/DBP (<120/80mmHg), normal/high normal SBP/DBP (120/80≤SBP/DBP<140/90mmHg), hypertensive status (SBP/DBP≥140/0mmHg).
Results: At baseline and at re-evaluation: a. 35% vs. 61% had normal weight, 21% vs. 28% were overweight and 44% vs. 11% were obese, b. 2% vs. 0% had white coat hypertension and 2% vs. 2% arterial hypertension, c. SBP/DBP=101/59mmHg vs. 117/71mmHg (p<0.001), d. PWV=6±0.9m/sec vs. 7.5±1.09m/sec (p<0.001), e. HDL=64±19mg/dl vs. 54±10mg/dl (p=0.001), LDL=93±21mg/dl vs. 82±21mg/dl (p=0.0039), f. 3±3 vs 4.5±5 hours/week of athletic activities (p=0.03). No correlation was found between SBP and PWV at baseline, as well as between dSBP and dPWV during the 10 years follow-up. However, SBP correlated with PWV in young adults (r=0.45, p<0.001).
Conclusion: After 10 years, young adults are less obese, they maintain a normal lipid profile, their blood pressure and arterial stiffness remain within normal limits and they spend more hours in athletic activities. However, 39% overweight/obese and their arterial stiffness correlates with SBP. Conclusively, the overall cardiovascular profile seems unfavorable after the severe economic crisis.
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