The Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents--ERICA: rationale, design and sample characteristics of a national survey examining cardiovascular risk factor profile in Brazilian adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents (Portuguese acronym, "ERICA") is a multicenter, school-based country-wide cross-sectional study funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, which aims at estimating the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, including those included in the definition of the metabolic syndrome, in a random sample of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years in Brazilian cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. Approximately 85,000 students were assessed in public and private schools. Brazil is a continental country with a heterogeneous population of 190 million living in its five main geographic regions (North, Northeast, Midwest, South and Southeast). ERICA is a pioneering study that will assess the prevalence rates of cardiovascular risk factors in Brazilian adolescents using a sample with national and regional representativeness. This paper describes the rationale, design and procedures of ERICA. METHODS/DESIGN: Participants answered a self-administered questionnaire using an electronic device, in order to obtain information on demographic and lifestyle characteristics, including physical activity, smoking, alcohol intake, sleeping hours, common mental disorders and reproductive and oral health. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall. Anthropometric measures (weight, height and waist circumference) and blood pressure were also be measured. Blood was collected from a subsample of approximately 44,000 adolescents for measurements of fasting glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, glycated hemoglobin and fasting insulin. DISCUSSION: The study findings will be instrumental to the development of public policies aiming at the prevention of obesity, atherosclerotic diseases and diabetes in an adolescent population.

Glucose dysregulation and hepatic steatosis in obese adolescents: is there a link?

UNLABELLED: Fatty liver is increasingly common in obese adolescents. We determined its association with glucose dysregulation in 118 (37M/81F) obese adolescents of similar age and percent total fat. Fast-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and simple MRI were used to quantify hepatic fat content and abdominal fat distribution. All subjects had a standard oral glucose tolerance test. Insulin sensitivity was estimated by the Matsuda Index and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Baseline total and high molecular weight (HMW)-adiponectin and interleukin (IL)-6 levels were measured. The cohort was stratified according to tertiles of hepatic fat content. Whereas age and %fat were comparable across tertiles, ethnicity differed in that fewer Blacks and more Whites and Hispanics were in the moderate and high category of hepatic fat fraction (HFF). Visceral and the visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio increased and insulin sensitivity decreased across tertiles. Two-hour plasma glucose rose with increasing hepatic steatosis (P < 0.008). 73.7% of the subjects in the high HFF had the metabolic syndrome compared to 19.5% and 30.6%, respectively, in the low and moderate categories. Both total and HMW-adiponectin decreased, and IL-6 increased with increasing hepatic steatosis. CONCLUSION: In obese adolescents, independent of total fat, increasing severity of fatty liver is associated with glucose dysregulation, metabolic syndrome, and with a proinflammatory milieu.

Associação entre parto cesáreo e pressão arterial elevada em pré-escolares: um estudo transversal / Association between cesarean section and high blood pressure among early elementary schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study / Asociación entre los partos por cesárea y la presión arterial alta en preescolares: un estudio transversal

O parto cesáreo é apontado como fator de risco para diversas doenças crônicas. Neste estudo, objetivou-se averiguar a associação entre parto cesáreo e pressão arterial (PA) de crianças de 6 anos. Trata-se de estudo transversal conduzido em Feira de Santana (BA), com 635 pares de mãe e filho. O tipo de parto foi categorizado em cesárea e vaginal. A PA foi aferida por meio de esfigmomanometria e considerada elevada quando atingiu níveis iguais ou maiores ao percentil 90 para idade, sexo e altura. Razões de prevalência brutas (RPbruta) e ajustadas (RPajustada) e respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%) foram estimados via regressão logística múltipla. A cesariana ocorreu em 46,5% dos casos, as prevalências de pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) e diastólica (PAD) elevadas foram de 17,2% e 5,6%, respectivamente. O excesso de peso foi verificado em 28,6% das crianças. A maior prevalência de PAS elevada foi observada entre as crianças que nasceram por cesariana (61%) em relação às que nasceram por parto vaginal (RPbruta: 1,51; IC95%: 1,07-2,14; RPajustada: 1,61; IC95%: 1,05-2,46). A idade materna ao nascimento da criança foi fator de interação na associação principal, assim, as crianças nascidas via parto vaginal exibiram maior prevalência de PAS elevada, comparadas às nascidas via cesárea. O parto cesáreo se associou à PAS elevada aos 6 anos de idade.

Cesarean delivery is considered a risk factor for several chronic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between cesarean section and blood pressure (BP) in 6-year-old children. This is a cross-sectional study carried out in Feira de Santana, (BA) with 635 mother-child pairs. The type of birth was categorized into cesarean and vaginal. The BP was measured by using sphygmomanometry and considered high when it reached levels equal or higher than the 90th percentile for age, gender, and height. Crude (PRcrude) and adjusted (PRadjusted) prevalence rate and respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated by multiple logistic regression. Cesarean section occurred in 46.5% of the cases, the prevalence of high systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure were 17.2% and 5.6%, respectively. Excess weight was verified in 28.6% of the children. The highest prevalence of high SBP was among children who were born by cesarean section (61%) compared with those who were born vaginally (PRcrude: 1.51; 95%CI: 1.07-2.14; PRadjusted: 1.61; 95%CI %: 1.05-2.46). Maternal age at the birth of the child was an interaction factor in the main association, thus, children born vaginally had a higher prevalence of elevated SBP, compared with those born via cesarean section. Cesarean section was associated with increased SBP at six years of age.

El parto por cesárea presenta un factor de riesgo para varias enfermedades crónicas. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la asociación entre el parto por cesárea y la presión arterial (PA) en niños de 6 años de edad. Se trata de un estudio transversal, realizado en Feira de Santana, en Bahía (Brasil), con 635 pares de madre e hijo. El tipo de parto se clasificó en cesárea y vaginal. La PA se midió mediante esfigmomanometría y se consideró alta cuando alcanzó niveles más altos o iguales al percentil 90 para edad, sexo y talla. Las razones de prevalencia crudas (RPcrudas) y ajustadas (RPajustadas) y los respectivos intervalos de confianza del 95% (IC del 95%) se estimaron mediante regresión logística múltiple. La cesárea ocurrió en el 46,5%, las prevalencias de presión arterial sistólica (PAS) y diastólica (PAD) altas fueron el 17,2% y el 5,6%, respectivamente. El exceso de peso se presentó en el 28,6% de los niños. La mayor prevalencia de PAS alta se observó entre los niños nacidos por cesárea (61%) en comparación con los nacidos por vía vaginal (RPcruda: 1,51; IC95%: 1,07-2,14; RPajustada: 1,61; IC95%: 1,05-2,46). La edad materna al nacimiento del niño fue un factor de interacción en la principal asociación, así, los niños nacidos por vía vaginal tuvieron una mayor prevalencia de PAS elevada en comparación con los nacidos por cesárea. El parto por cesárea se asoció con un aumento de la PAS a los 6 años de edad.

Baseline characteristics and risk factors for ulcer, amputation and severe neuropathy in diabetic foot at risk: the BRAZUPA study.

BACKGROUND: Studies on diabetic foot and its complications involving a significant and representative sample of patients in South American countries are scarce. The main objective of this study was to acquire clinical and epidemiological data on a large cohort of diabetic patients from 19 centers from Brazil and focus on factors that could be associated with the risk of ulcer and amputation. METHODS: This study presents cross sectional, baseline results of the BRAZUPA Study. A total of 1455 patients were included. Parameters recorded included age, gender, ethnicity, diabetes and comorbidity-related records, previous ulcer or amputation, clinical symptomatic score, foot classification and microvascular complications. RESULTS: Patients with ulcer had longer disease duration (17.2 ± 9.9 vs. 13.2 ± 9.4 years; p < 0.001), and poorer glycemic control (HbA1c 9.23 ± 2.03 vs. 8.35 ± 1.99; p < 0.001). Independent risk factors for ulcer were male gender (OR 1.71; 95 % CI 1.2-3.7), smoking (OR 1.78; 95 % CI 1.09-2.89), neuroischemic foot (OR 20.34; 95 % CI 9.31-44.38), region of origin (higher risk for those from developed regions, OR 2.39; 95 % CI 1.47-3.87), presence of retinopathy (OR 1.68; 95 % CI 1.08-2.62) and absence of vibratory sensation (OR 7.95; 95 % CI 4.65-13.59). Risk factors for amputation were male gender (OR 2.12; 95 % CI 1.2-3.73), type 2 diabetes (OR 3.33; 95 % CI 1.01-11.1), foot at risk classification (higher risk for ischemic foot, OR 19.63; 95 % CI 3.43-112.5), hypertension (lower risk, OR 0.3; 95 % CI 0.14-0.63), region of origin (South/Southeast, OR 2.2; 95 % CI 1.1-4.42), previous history of ulcer (OR 9.66; 95 % CI 4.67-19.98) and altered vibratory sensation (OR 3.46; 95 % CI 1.64-7.33). There was no association between either outcome and ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: Ulcer and amputation rates were high. Age at presentation was low and patients with ulcer presented a higher prevalence of neuropathy compared to ischemic foot at risk. Ischemic disease was more associated with amputations. Ethnical differences were not of great importance in a miscegenated population.

ERICA: prevalences of hypertension and obesity in Brazilian adolescents.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of arterial hypertension and obesity and the population attributable fraction of hypertension that is due to obesity in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS Data from participants in the Brazilian Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), which was the first national school-based, cross-section study performed in Brazil were evaluated. The sample was divided into 32 geographical strata and clusters from 32 schools and classes, with regional and national representation. Obesity was classified using the body mass index according to age and sex. Arterial hypertension was defined when the average systolic or diastolic blood pressure was greater than or equal to the 95th percentile of the reference curve. Prevalences and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) of arterial hypertension and obesity, both on a national basis and in the macro-regions of Brazil, were estimated by sex and age group, as were the fractions of hypertension attributable to obesity in the population. RESULTS We evaluated 73,399 students, 55.4% female, with an average age of 14.7 years (SD = 1.6). The prevalence of hypertension was 9.6% (95%CI 9.0-10.3); with the lowest being in the North, 8.4% (95%CI 7.7-9.2) and Northeast regions, 8.4% (95%CI 7.6-9.2), and the highest being in the South, 12.5% (95%CI 11.0-14.2). The prevalence of obesity was 8.4% (95%CI 7.9-8.9), which was lower in the North region and higher in the South region. The prevalences of arterial hypertension and obesity were higher in males. Obese adolescents presented a higher prevalence of hypertension, 28.4% (95%CI 25.5-31.2), than overweight adolescents, 15.4% (95%CI 17.0-13.8), or eutrophic adolescents, 6.3% (95%CI 5.6-7.0). The fraction of hypertension attributable to obesity was 17.8%. CONCLUSIONS ERICA was the first nationally representative Brazilian study providing prevalence estimates of hypertension in adolescents. Regional and sex differences were observed. The study indicates that the control of obesity would lower the prevalence of hypertension among Brazilian adolescents by 1/5.

ERICA: prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Brazilian adolescents.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS We evaluated 37,504 adolescents who were participants in the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), a cross-sectional, school-based, national study. The adolescents, aged from 12 to 17 years, lived in cities with populations greater than 100,000 inhabitants. The sample was stratified and clustered into schools and classes. The criteria set out by the International Diabetes Federation were used to define metabolic syndrome. Prevalences of metabolic syndrome were estimated according to sex, age group, school type and nutritional status. RESULTS Of the 37,504 adolescents who were evaluated: 50.2% were female; 54.3% were aged from 15 to 17 years, and 73.3% were from public schools. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 2.6% (95%CI 2.3-2.9), slightly higher in males and in those aged from 15 to 17 years in most macro-regions. The prevalence was the highest in residents from the South macro-region, in the younger female adolescents and in the older male adolescents. The prevalence was higher in public schools (2.8% [95%CI 2.4-3.2]), when compared with private schools (1.9% [95%CI 1.4-2.4]) and higher in obese adolescents when compared with nonobese ones. The most common combinations of components, referring to 3/4 of combinations, were: enlarged waist circumference (WC), low HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c) and high blood pressure; followed by enlarged WC, low HDL-c and high triglycerides; and enlarged WC, low HDL-c, high triglycerides and blood pressure. Low HDL was the second most frequent component, but the highest prevalence of metabolic syndrome (26.8%) was observed in the presence of high triglycerides. CONCLUSIONS ERICA is the first Brazilian nation-wide study to present the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and describe the role of its components. Despite the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome being low, the high prevalences of some components and participation of others in the syndrome composition shows the importance of early diagnosis of this changes, even if not grouped within the metabolic syndrome.

[Prevalence of overweight and childhood obesity in Feira de Santana-BA: family detection vs. clinical diagnosis]. / Prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade infantil na cidade de Feira de Santana-BA: detecção na família x diagnóstico clínico.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children attending public and private schools in the urban area of Feira de Santana-BA; to evaluate both the perception of excessive weight gain by guardians and the prevalence of treatment of those children. METHOD: Cross-sectional study with 699 children, whose age ranged from 5 to 9 years old, attending public and private schools of Feira de Santana-BA in 2001. Overweight was defined as body mass index (BMI)> or =85th percentile and obesity as BMI > or =95th percentile both for age and gender. The level of perception of children's excessive weight gain by guardians was evaluated by means of individual interviews. RESULTS: Total prevalence rates were 9.3% for overweight and 4.4% for obesity, without statistically significant difference among age and gender. White ethnic group was related only to overweight. Prevalence for overweight and obesity was, respectively, 6.5% and 2.7% for public schools and 13.4% and 7.0% for private ones. Guardians suspected that 11.7% of the children presented excessive weight gain. Only 11.1% of them were submitted to treatment. A percentage of 22.2% of these treatments were performed by specialized professionals. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was high and similar to some studies in Brazil; even though excessive weight gain can be recognized by children's guardians, they are not aware of the necessity of treatment.

Intrahepatic fat accumulation and alterations in lipoprotein composition in obese adolescents: a perfect proatherogenic state.

OBJECTIVE: Among other metabolic consequences, a dyslipidemic profile often accompanies childhood obesity. In adults, type 2 diabetes and hepatic steatosis have been shown to alter lipoprotein subclass distribution and size; however, these alterations have not yet been shown in children or adolescents. Therefore, our objective was to determine the effect of hepatic steatosis on lipoprotein concentration and size in obese adolescents. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using fast magnetic resonance imaging, we measured intrahepatic fat content in 49 obese adolescents with normal glucose tolerance. The presence or absence of hepatic steatosis was determined by a threshold value for hepatic fat fraction (HFF) of 5.5%; therefore, the cohort was divided into two groups (HFF > or <5.5%). Fasting lipoprotein subclasses were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. RESULTS: Overall, the high-HFF group had 88% higher concentrations of large VLDL compared with the low-HFF group (P < 0.001). Likewise, the high-HFF group had significantly higher concentrations of small dense LDL (P < 0.007); however, the low-HFF group had significantly higher concentrations of large HDL (P < 0.001). Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that high HFF was the strongest single correlate, accounting for 32.6% of the variance in large VLDL concentrations (P < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of fatty liver was associated with a pronounced dyslipidemic profile characterized by large VLDL, small dense LDL, and decreased large HDL concentrations. This proatherogenic phenotype was strongly related to the intrahepatic lipid content.