Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among Latin American adolescents: a multilevel analysis

Abstract Context Studies have indicated that homocysteine levels are nontraditional markers for cardiovascular disease. The onset of atherosclerotic disease begins in childhood and adolescence; thus, prevention of its risk factors should occur early. Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the association between high homocysteine levels and traditional cardiovascular risk factors in children and adolescents. Data Sources This systematic review and meta-analysis were developed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the protocol was submitted to PROSPERO. Only observational studies in children and adolescents with homocysteine levels as an exposure variable and cardiovascular risk factors as outcome variables were included and searched in the following electronic bibliographic databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences, Ovid and Scopus. Data Extraction Two authors independently extracted data from eligible studies. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Data Analysis Seven studies were included in the systematic review; they were published from 1999 to 2017, predominantly were of a cross-sectional design, and mainly evaluated adolescents. In the meta-analysis (n = 6), cross-sectional studies (n = 3) identified that high homocysteine levels were positive and weakly correlated with overweight in children and adolescents (odds ratio, 1.08; 95%CI, 1.04–1.11). Conclusion High homocysteine levels were weakly associated with overweight in children and adolescents in the reviewed cross-sectional studies. However, for the other traditional cardiovascular risk factors, the findings, although important, were inconclusive. Additional robust longitudinal studies are recommended to be conducted to better identify these associations. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42018086252.

Download Full-text

Inflammation and Hypertension: Are There Regional Differences?

International Journal of Hypertension ◽

10.1155/2013/492094 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Patricio López-Jaramillo ◽

Carlos Velandia-Carrillo ◽

Julie Álvarez-Camacho ◽

Daniel Dylan Cohen ◽

Tatiana Sánchez-Solano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Latin American ◽

Abdominal Obesity ◽

Proinflammatory Cytokines ◽

Regional Differences ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Low Degree ◽

Latin American Population

Hypertension is a chronic disease with global prevalence and incidence rapidly increasing in low and medium income countries. The surveillance of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, is a global health priority in order to estimate the burden and trends, to appropriately direct resources, and to measure the effect of interventions. We propose here that the adoption of Western lifestyles in low and middle incomes countries has dramatically increased the prevalence of abdominal obesity, which is the main source of proinflammatory cytokines, and that the vascular systemic inflammation produced by adipose tissue contributes to the development of hypertension. The concentration of proinflammatory cytokines is higher in the Latin American population than that reported in developed countries, suggesting a higher susceptibility to develop systemic low-degree inflammation at a given level of abdominal obesity. These particularities are important to be considered when planning resources for health care programs. Moreover, studying these singularities may provide a better understanding of the causes of the burden of cardiovascular risk factors and the remarkable variability in the prevalence of these medical conditions within and between countries.

Download Full-text

Abstract P166: Distribution of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in ESMaestras: A Cohort Study of 97,174 Mexican Women

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.125.suppl_10.ap166 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽

Author(s):

Martin Lajous ◽

Isabelle Romieu ◽

Andres Catzin-Kuhlmann ◽

Walter C Willett ◽

Ruy Lopez-Ridaura

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Latin American ◽

Lifestyle Factors ◽

Lifestyle Factor ◽

Mexican Women ◽

Daily Consumption

Introduction: The ESMaestras study ( Estudio de Seguimiento la Salud de las Maestras ) is an effort to prospectively study the health effects of dietary and lifestyle factors in Mexico, a country undergoing a fast-paced nutritional and epidemiologic transition. Understanding risk factors for disease in this minimally studied population may provide insights on lifestyle-disease relations in other populations. Methods: We evaluated the cross-sectional distribution of cardiovascular risk factors in the baseline evaluation of the ESMaestras cohort study, an ongoing prospective study among 97,174 female teachers living in 12 different states in Mexico. In 2008, participants responded to a detailed questionnaire on lifestyle factors, diet and medical conditions that was sent and received by school district administration. Diet was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire validated in a similar Mexican population. Results: Median age of participants was 44 years [(10 th , 90 th percentile) 33, 52] and 17.3% were postmenopausal. Median BMI was 26.7 [(10 th , 90 th percentile) 22.2, 33.6] and 66.4% were overweight or obese. Median moderate/vigorous recreational physical activity was 1 hr/week [(10 th , 90 th percentile) 0, 6.0]. Only 9.7% participants were current smokers and among them 21.5% reported smoking more than 5 cigarettes per day. Most participants reported alcohol consumption (62%) but daily consumption was very low (1.2% consumed ≥0.5 drink/day). Median (10 th , 90 th percentile) intake of fish was 0.98 servings/week (0.28, 3.3), of red meat 4.1 servings/week (1.3, 9.9), of fruits and vegetables 5.3 servings/day (1.8, 12.2) and of sugar-sweetened beverages 1.2 (0.3, 3.6). The prevalence of self-reported, treated conditions was 12.1% for hypertension, 4.3% for diabetes and 11.6% for elevated cholesterol. Conclusion: In this relatively young population of Mexican women we observed a high prevalence of some risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Adequate systematic follow-up with repeated evaluation of risk factors in this population may prove to be informative about lifestyle factor and cardiovascular disease relations in Latin-American women.

Download Full-text