Cardiometabolic risk assessment: A school-based study in Brazilian adolescent.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Recently, new indices combining routine and low-cost anthropometric and biochemical measurements have emerged. Among them, the visceral adiposity index (VAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP) are being investigated for the prediction of altered blood pressure (BP) and insulin resistance (IR). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate whether visceral adiposity index (VAI) and height-corrected lipid accumulation product (HLAP) are predictors of cardiometabolic risk in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were obtained from the Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents (ERICA) study, a cross-sectional, national, multicenter, school-based survey conducted between 2013 and 2014 in Brazil. The sample consisted of 37,815 adolescents aged 12-17 years of both genders attending the last 3 years of elementary or secondary school from public and private schools located in 273 municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. A Poisson regression was performed to verify associations between VAI and HLAP indices and the presence of altered BP and IR according to sex. In addition, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was applied to compare the predictive ability and determine the cut-off points of the VAI and HLAP indices in identifying cardiometabolic risk obtained by altered BP and IR. The prevalences of altered BP and IR were 24.49 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 23.14-25.87) and 24.22 % (95 % CI: 22.70-25.80), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The VAI and HLAP indices are good predictors of cardiometabolic risk in Brazilian adolescents. HLAP showed better performance in identifying insulin resistance in males.

Self-reported lifestyle behaviours in families with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes across six European countries: a cross-sectional analysis from the Feel4Diabetes-study.

BACKGROUND: A healthy lifestyle decreases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. The current cross-sectional study aimed to describe self-reported lifestyle behaviours and compare them to current health guidelines in European Feel4Diabetes-families at risk for developing type 2 diabetes across six countries (Belgium, Finland, Spain, Greece, Hungary and Bulgaria). METHODS: Parents and their children were recruited through primary schools located in low socio-economic status areas. Parents filled out the FINDRISC-questionnaire (eight items questioning age, Body Mass Index, waist circumference, PA, daily consumption of fruit, berries or vegetables, history of antihypertensive drug treatment, history of high blood glucose and family history of diabetes), which was used for the risk assessment of the family. Sociodemographic factors and several lifestyle behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, water consumption, fruit and vegetable consumption, soft drink consumption, sweets consumption, snack consumption, breakfast consumption) of both adults and children were assessed by parental questionnaires. Multilevel regression analyses were conducted to investigate families' lifestyle behaviours, to compare these levels to health guidelines and to assess potential differences between the countries. Analyses were controlled for age, sex and socio-economic status. RESULTS: Most Feel4Diabetes-families at risk (parents and their children) did not comply with the guidelines regarding healthy behaviours, set by the WHO, European or national authorities. Less than half of parents and children complied with the physical activity guidelines, less than 15% of them complied with the fruit and vegetable guideline, and only 40% of the children met the recommendations of five glasses of water per day. Clear differences in lifestyle behaviours in Feel4Diabetes-families at risk exist between the countries. CONCLUSIONS: Countries are highly recommended to invest in policy initiatives to counter unhealthy lifestyle behaviours in families at risk for type 2 diabetes development, taking into account country-specific needs. For future research it is of great importance to focus on families at risk in order to counter the development of type 2 diabetes and reduce health inequity.

Dietary sugars, metabolic effects and child health.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To describe current findings on sugar intake in children worldwide, including sugar sources and their impact on child health focusing on cardiometabolic alterations usually associated to obesity. RECENT FINDINGS: In children less than 4 years, intakes of added sugars across countries ranged from 9.8 to 11.2% of total energy; in children 4-10 years, it ranged from less than 3-18%; and in adolescents, it ranged from 13.6 to 16.6%. For most countries, intakes of added sugars were greater than the recommended upper limit of 10% of total energy for children and adolescents and less or around 10% in infants. In most studies, soft drinks and fruit-based drinks accounted for the greatest proportion of the added sugars intake, followed by milk products and sweet bakery products. High added sugar intake has been associated with increased obesity risk and fat deposition in the liver, contributing to dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and cardio-metabolic risk. SUMMARY: As a high added sugar intake is associated with cardio-metabolic conditions in children and adolescents, the current scenario supports the need for stronger targeted long-term policies that prevent the excessive sugar intake in young populations.

Clustering of multiple energy balance related behaviors is associated with body fat composition indicators in adolescents: Results from the HELENA and ELANA studies.

The objective of this study was to identify clustering patterns of four energy balance-related behaviors (EBRB): television (TV) watching, moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA), consumption of fruits and vegetables (F&V), and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), among European and Brazilian adolescents. EBRB associations with different body fat composition indicators were then evaluated. Participants included adolescents from eight European countries in the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescents) study (n = 2,057, 53.8% female; age: 12.5-17.5 years) and from the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro/Brazil in the ELANA study (the Adolescent Nutritional Assessment Longitudinal Study) (n = 968, 53.2% female; age: 13.5-19 years). EBRB data allowed for sex- and study-specific clusters. Associations were estimated by ANOVA and odds ratios. Five clustering patterns were identified. Four similar clusters were identified for each sex and study. Among boys, different cluster identified was characterized by high F&V consumption in the HELENA study and high TV watching and high MVPA time in the ELANA study. Among girls, the different clusters identified was characterized by high F&V consumption in both studies and, additionally, high SSB consumption in the ELANA study. Regression analysis showed that clusters characterized by high SSB consumption in European boys; high TV watching, and high TV watching plus high MVPA in Brazilian boys; and high MVPA, and high SSB and F&V consumption in Brazilian girls, were positively associated with different body fat composition indicators. Common clusters were observed in adolescents from Europe and Brazil, however, no cluster was identified as being completely healthy or unhealthy. Each cluster seems to impact on body composition indicators, depending on the group. Public health actions should aim to promote adequate practices of EBRB.

How Accurate Is a Single Cutpoint to Identify High Blood Pressure in Adolescents?

In 2007 the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) proposed single blood pressure (BP) cutpoints (systolic: ≥130 mm Hg and diastolic: ≥85 mm Hg) for the diagnosis of high blood pressure (HBP) in adolescents. Before this proposal, HBP had been defined as BP at or above the 95th percentile for age, sex, and height percentile (reference standard). In this study, we evaluated the risk for misclassification when using the IDF single-cutpoints criteria. We first applied the IDF criteria to a reconstructed population with the same age, sex, and height distribution as the population used to develop the reference standard. The proposed single cutpoints corresponded to percentiles from the 81.6th to 99.9th for systolic BP and from the 92.9th to 98.9th for diastolic BP in the reconstructed population. Using IDF criteria, there were high false-negative fractions for both systolic and diastolic BP (from 54% to 93%) in 10- to 12-year-olds and a false-positive fraction up to 35% in older subjects. We then applied the IDF criteria to 1,162 overweight/obese adolescents recruited during 1998-2000 from pediatric clinical centers in Milano, Varese, and Modena in Italy and in Zaragoza, Spain. Overall false-negative and false-positive fractions were 22% and 2%, respectively; negative predictive values were especially low for 10- to 12-year-old subjects. The use of IDF's single cutpoints carries a high risk of misclassification, mostly due to false negatives in younger subjects. The effort to simplify diagnosis could be overcome by the risk of undiagnosed HBP.

Evolution of adolescents' dietary patterns in Northeast Brazil from 2008 to 2018.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the evolution of the dietary patterns of adolescents in the northeast region of Brazil. METHODS: Secondary analysis of data from the Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF - Household Budget Surveys), collected by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) in the years 2008-2009 and 2017-2018. A total of 3,095 adolescents were evaluated in 2008-2009 and 3,015 in 2017-2018. Food consumption was assessed using two dietary records in 2008-2009 and two 24-hour recalls in 2017-2018, applied on non-consecutive days. Based on these data, principal components factor analysis (PCFA) was performed, followed by orthogonal rotation of the varimax type, to derive dietary patterns, stratified by sex. The results were described as means or percentage frequencies, with their respective 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Three main dietary patterns were identified among adolescents from the northeast region of Brazil. Among boys, in 2008-2009, the patterns were called snacks, traditional Brazilian, and coffee; and in 2017-2018, traditional Brazilian, snacks, and mixed, in this order of representativeness of the group's eating habits. Among female adolescents, in 2008-2009, the patterns were snacks, traditional Brazilian, and coffee; and in 2017-2018, traditional Brazilian, snacks, and processed meats. CONCLUSION: The dietary patterns identified in 2008-2009 and 2017-2018 were similar in both genders; however, the snacks pattern, which explained most of the data variability in 2008-2009, was replaced by the traditional Brazilian.

Association between COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects and Body Mass Index in Spain.

COVID-19 vaccines have shown high efficacy, with most side effects being mild-moderate and more frequently reported by females and people at younger ages. Since no studies have assessed the impact that weight status could have on the reported adverse reactions, we aim to study the association between weight status and reported side effects. We included data on 2136 adults from an online survey conducted from 6 May to 9 June 2021. The questionnaire was filled in by participants over Google forms. Generalized Linear Mixed Models were used. A higher risk of presenting fever ≥38°, vomiting, diarrhea and chills was found in those with a non-overweight status compared to those overweight after adjusting for age, sex, education, medication to prevent/relieve post-vaccination effects and vaccine administered. When adjusting, most of the significant effects, in the association between side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine and weight status, did not remain significant. In conclusion, a non-overweight status was associated with a higher risk of presenting fever ≥38°, vomiting, diarrhea and chills compared to those overweight. Nevertheless, most of the reported side effects to COVID-19 vaccine were not associated with a higher risk of presenting more adverse effects, and individual differences were determined by sex and age.

Frailty and Physical Fitness in Elderly People: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is an age-related condition that implies a vulnerability status affecting quality of life and independence of the elderly. Physical fitness is closely related to frailty, as some of its components are used for the detection of this condition. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the magnitude of the associations between frailty and different physical fitness components and to analyse if several health-related factors can act as mediators in the relationship between physical fitness and frailty. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted of PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science, covering the period from the respective start date of each database to March 2020, published in English, Spanish or Portuguese. Two investigators evaluated 1649 studies against the inclusion criteria (cohort and cross-sectional studies in humans aged ≥ 60 years that measured physical fitness with validated tests and frailty according to the Fried Frailty Phenotype or the Rockwood Frailty Index). The quality assessment tool for observational cross-sectional studies was used to assess the quality of the studies. RESULTS: Twenty studies including 13,527 participants met the inclusion criteria. A significant relationship was found between frailty and each physical fitness component. Usual walking speed was the physical fitness variable most strongly associated with frailty status, followed by aerobic capacity, maximum walking speed, lower body strength and grip strength. Potential mediators such as age, sex, body mass index or institutionalization status did not account for the heterogeneity between studies following a meta-regression. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these findings suggest a clear association between physical fitness components and frailty syndrome in elderly people, with usual walking speed being the most strongly associated fitness test. These results may help to design useful strategies, to attenuate or prevent frailty in elders. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42020149604 (date of registration: 03/12/2019).

Association between Eating Patterns and Excess Body Weight in Adolescents.

Background: Excess body weight is a risk factor for the development of diseases. Adolescence is a nutritionally vulnerable age group that suffers due to influences on food intake. We aimed to identify the main dietary patterns of adolescents to investigate their association with excess body weight. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Anthropometric measurements (weight and height) were collected to calculate the BMI. Nutritional statuses were classified according to World Health Organization classification. Food consumption data were obtained through a 24-hour recall and food patterns were identified through factor analyses of the main components. The patterns were categorized into quintiles and dichotomized into greater (fourth and fifth quintile) and lower (first to third quintile) adherences. Binomial regression was used to assess the association between food patterns and excess body weight. The study was conducted in a capital city in Northeast Brazil from adolescents aged between 10 and 19 years in 826 public schools. Results: Three main food patterns were identified in women and men: coffee with bread (white bread, coffee, fat, and eggs), common Brazilian (white rice, beans, meat, pasta, with negative factor load for regional foods), and mixed pattern (sweets, fruits, biscuits and cakes, vegetables, and dairy products). Adolescents with a greater adherence to the coffee and bread pattern [odds ratio (OR) = 0.68; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.50-0.93] and the common Brazilian pattern (OR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.53-0.99) had a lower chance of being excess body weight than those with lower adherence. Conclusions: Three main eating patterns were identified among adolescents, and greater adherence to the coffee with bread and common Brazilian patterns implied a lower chance of excess body weight.

Physiological and public health basis for assessing micronutrient requirements in children and adolescents. The EURRECA network.

This paper provides an overview of the current knowledge relating to the nutritional requirements and corresponding recommended nutrient intake values of children and adolescents for micronutrients and specificities related to these requirements in the course of childhood and adolescence in Europe. Aspects that can influence micronutrient requirements, such as physiological requirements and bioavailability of the nutrients in the organism, are discussed. The methodology used to obtain the data and also the main knowledge gaps regarding these concepts are emphasized. Methodological critical points in achieving the data and physiological aspects of children and adolescents are important in order to standardize the reference values for micronutrients among Europe for these stages of life.

Height-based equations as screening tools for elevated blood pressure in the SAYCARE study.

This study evaluated the accuracy of four height-based equations: blood pressure to height ratio (BPHR), modified BPHR (MBPHR), new modified BPHR (NMBPHR), and height-based equations (HBE) for screening elevated BP in children and adolescents in the SAYCARE study. We measured height and BP of 829 children and adolescents from seven South American cities. Receiving operating curves were used to assess formula performance to diagnose elevated BP in comparison to the 2017 clinical guideline. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) were calculated for the four screening formulas. The diagnostic agreement was evaluated with the kappa coefficient. The HBE equation showed the maximum sensitivity (100%) in children, both for boys and girls, and showed the best performance results, with a very high NPV (>99%) and high PPV (>60%) except for female children (53.8%). In adolescents, the highest sensitivity (100%) was achieved with the NMBPHR for both sexes. Kappa coefficients indicated that HBE had the highest agreement with the gold standard diagnostic method (between 0.70 and 0.75), except for female children (0.57). Simplified methods are friendlier than the percentile gold standard tables. The HBE equation showed better performance than the other formulas in this Latin American pediatric population.

Sampling and processing blood samples within the South American Youth/Child cARdiovascular and Environmental (SAYCARE) Study.

Obesity and overweight in children and adolescents is increasing rapidly worldwide; however, scarce data have been reported from South America countries. With the purpose of assessing hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, the evaluation of blood biomarkers such as glucose, lipoproteins and chronic inflammation proteins is required. In the context of the SAYCARE study, in children and adolescents (3 to 18 years) from seven South American cities, our aim was to assess the impact of pre analytical conditions on different biomarkers evaluated in 474 fresh serum samples, in different country centers. We also evaluated the stability according to time and frozen storage within this study across the concordance of the results obtained from the 49 blood samples measured in three different centers. Significant correlations as well as concordance were observed in TG, Total-C, HDL-C and glucose between Buenos Aires and São Paulo. The samples evaluated in Teresina and São Paulo presented similar results, with exception of total cholesterol. We observed acceptable concordance between Buenos Aires vs São Paulo and Teresina vs São Paulo, suggesting that samples could be processed in each of these centers. This concordance is a consequence of the strict pre analytical conditions previously established in the SAYCARE study.

Implications of the mutation S164A on Bacillus subtilis levansucrase product specificity and insights into protein interactions acting upon levan synthesis.

Mutation S164A largely affects the transfructosylation properties of Bacillus subtilis levansucrase (SacB). The variant uses acceptors such as glucose and short levans with an average molecular weight of 7.6 kDa more efficiently than SacB, leading to the enhanced synthesis of medium and high molecular weight polymer and a blasto-oligosaccharide series with a polymerization degree of 2-10. A 3-fold increase in blasto-oligosaccharides yield is provoked by the modified interplay between the variant and glucose. Despite its modified product specificity, protein-carbohydrate and protein-protein interactions are still a major factor affecting size and distribution of levan molecular weight. This study highlights the importance of critical factors such as protein concentration in the analysis of wild-type and mutagenized levansucrases. Docking experiments with the crystal structures of SacB and variant S164A - the latter obtained at a 2.6 Å resolution - identified unreported potential binding subsites for fructosyl moieties on the surface of both enzymes.

Sleep duration and blood pressure in children: Analysis of the pan-European IDEFICS cohort.

The present study aims to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between self-reported nocturnal sleep duration, blood pressure, and hypertension in European children, aged 2-9.9 years, participating in the IDEFICS project. Blood pressure (BP) and the main anthropometric indices were measured according to standardized procedures. Childhood elevated BP and hypertension were defined according to the European Society of Hypertension Guidelines for children and adolescents. Parents reported lifestyle and socio-demographic data. Nocturnal sleep duration was assessed as part of a parental 24-h recall and categorized as follows: (a) ≤9 hours/night; (b) >9 hours to ≤10 hours/night; (c) >10 hours to ≤11 hours/night; and (d) >11 hours/night. A complete set of variables included in the present analysis was provided by 7974 participants (boys/girls = 4049/3925) at the baseline survey (T0). Of them, 5656 were re-examined 2 years later at follow-up (T1). Children reporting shorter sleep duration at T0 had significantly higher BP values (P for trend < 0.001) compared to those who slept more. Prospective analyses showed that shorter sleep duration at baseline predicted, over the 2-year follow-up, higher increases in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, after adjustment for age, sex, country of origin, BMI z-score, parental education, physical activity, screen time, and T0 value of the examined outcome variables (P for trend < 0.001). Our findings reveal that shorter sleep duration is associated with higher BP in childhood, suggesting that sleep may be a potential risk factor for hypertension later in life.

Evolution of adolescents' dietary patterns in Northeast Brazil from 2008 to 2018

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To evaluate the evolution of the dietary patterns of adolescents in the northeast region of Brazil. METHODS Secondary analysis of data from the Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF - Household Budget Surveys), collected by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) in the years 2008-2009 and 2017-2018. A total of 3,095 adolescents were evaluated in 2008-2009 and 3,015 in 2017-2018. Food consumption was assessed using two dietary records in 2008-2009 and two 24-hour recalls in 2017-2018, applied on non-consecutive days. Based on these data, principal components factor analysis (PCFA) was performed, followed by orthogonal rotation of the varimax type, to derive dietary patterns, stratified by sex. The results were described as means or percentage frequencies, with their respective 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS Three main dietary patterns were identified among adolescents from the northeast region of Brazil. Among boys, in 2008-2009, the patterns were called snacks, traditional Brazilian, and coffee; and in 2017-2018, traditional Brazilian, snacks, and mixed, in this order of representativeness of the group's eating habits. Among female adolescents, in 2008-2009, the patterns were snacks, traditional Brazilian, and coffee; and in 2017-2018, traditional Brazilian, snacks, and processed meats. CONCLUSION The dietary patterns identified in 2008-2009 and 2017-2018 were similar in both genders; however, the snacks pattern, which explained most of the data variability in 2008-2009, was replaced by the traditional Brazilian.

Reproducibility and relative validity of a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire in European preschoolers: The ToyBox study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the reproducibility and relative validity of a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in assessing food group estimates. METHODS: Food group estimates were assessed via a 37-item FFQ and a 3-d food record (FR). Pearson's correlation coefficients for log-transformed values were calculated to assess the reproducibility and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients for log-transformed values were calculated to assess the validity. Kindergartens from six European countries participated in the preparatory substudies of the ToyBox intervention study; data from preschool children 4 to 6 y of age (n = 196, reproducibility study; n = 324, validation study) were obtained. RESULTS: In the reproducibility study, positive Pearson's correlation coefficients for single and aggregated food groups ranged from 0.14 for pasta and rice to 0.90 for cooked vegetables. In the validation study, the FR gave higher estimates of 40 of the 50 food items (single and aggregated) examined compared with those obtained from the FFQ. Positive crude Spearman rank correlation coefficients ranged from 0.01 for total beverages (added sugar) and rice to 0.62 for tea. Corrections for the deattenuation effect did not improve observed correlations. Quartiles and tertiles were calculated for a small number of food groups (N = 14) owing to zero consumption in the rest of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Moderately good reproducibility and low-moderate relative validity of the FFQ used in preschool children was observed. Relative validity, however, varied by food and beverage group; for some of the "key" foods/drinks targeted in the ToyBox intervention (e.g., biscuits), the validity was good. The findings should be considered in future epidemiologic and intervention studies in preschool children.

Erratum: Dietary Patterns and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Spanish Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the SI! Program for Health Promotion in Secondary Schools; Nutrients 2019, 11, 2297.

The authors have requested that the following changes be made to their paper [...].

Dietary Patterns and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Spanish Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the SI! Program for Health Promotion in Secondary Schools.

Previous studies on the association between dietary habits and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in adolescents have generated conflicting results. The aim of this study was to describe dietary patterns (DP) in a large sample of Spanish adolescents and to assess their cross-sectional relationship with CVRF. In total, 1324 adolescents aged 12.5 ± 0.4 years (51.6% boys) from 24 secondary schools completed a self-reported food frequency questionnaire. DPs were derived by cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, lipid profile, and glucose levels were assessed. Linear mixed models were applied to estimate the association between DPs and CVRF. Three DP-related clusters were obtained: Processed (29.2%); Traditional (39.1%); and Healthy (31.7%). Analogous patterns were obtained in the PCA. No overall differences in CVRF were observed between clusters except for z-BMI and z-FMI values, total cholesterol, and non-HDL cholesterol, with the Processed cluster showing the lowest mean values. However, differences were small. In conclusion, the overall association between DPs, as assessed by two different methods, and most analyzed CVRF was weak and not clinically relevant in a large sample of adolescents. Prospective analysis may help to disentangle the direction of these associations.

Measuring Socioeconomic Status and Environmental Factors in the SAYCARE Study in South America: Reliability of the Methods.

OBJECTIVE: This paper aimed to test the reliability of two questionnaires in studies involving children and adolescents (aged 3-18 years) in seven South American cities. One assesses socioeconomic status (SES) and the other measures environmental factors. METHODS: The SES questionnaire was composed of 14 questions, which included the presence of several consumer goods, domestic services, family income, parental education level, and current parental occupation status. The environmental questionnaire was composed of 15 questions to measure the social and infrastructure characteristics of the area of residence. Parents or guardians completed the questionnaires on behalf of their children. Adolescents answered the questions themselves for environmental factors, while those related to SES factors were answered by their parents or guardians. We analyzed the reliability of the questionnaires through kappa coefficient determination. Multilevel linear regression models were applied to calculate the correlation between the total household scores, the household income, and parents' education level. RESULTS: The environmental questionnaire showed good reproducibility in both age groups (k = 0.132-0.612 in children and k = 0.392-0.746 in adolescents). The SES questionnaire showed strong reliability in both age groups for all indicators (k = 0.52-1.00 in children and k = 0.296-0.964 in adolescents). CONCLUSIONS: Our multiple indicator questionnaires focused on environmental factors and SES in pediatric health surveys provided useful and easily applicable additional indicators to measure these important determinants of cardiovascular health.

Is the Measurement of Blood Pressure by Automatic Monitor in the South American Pediatric Population Accurate? SAYCARE Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test the validity of an automatic oscillometric device to measure the blood pressure (BP) in children (n = 191) and adolescents (n = 127) aged 3 to 18 years. METHODS: Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) levels were measured simultaneous by automatic device and mercury column with Y-connection. To verify the validity, Bland-Altman plots and limits of agreement of 95% (95% LOA), specificity and sensitivity of the device, and the grade of British Hypertension Society (BHS) criteria were used. RESULTS: The monitor measurements demonstrated lower measurement bias (mean difference [95% LOA]): 1.4 (-9.9 to 12.8) mmHg in children and 4.3 (-7.8 to 16.5) mmHg in adolescents for SBP. For DBP, it was 2.2 (-7.4 to 11.7) mmHg in children and 1.4 (-8.4 to 11.1) mmHg in adolescents. The sensitivity in children was 21.4 (95% CI = 16.3-26.6), and in adolescents, it was 20.0 (95% CI = 13.2-26.8); the specificity was 95.9 (95% CI = 93.4-98.4) in children and 100.0 (95% CI = 100.0-100.0) in adolescents. The monitor-tested ratings are Grade B for SBP in children and SBP and DBP in adolescents and Grade C for DBP in children. CONCLUSIONS: The automatic monitor presented high values of specificity and lower values of sensitivity to the diagnosis of HBP; however, it can be considered accurate (lower measurement bias) and valid for epidemiological and clinical practice in accordance with BHS criteria.