Resting Heart Rate Percentiles and Associated Factors in Children and Adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: To present population-based resting heart rate (RHR) percentiles and associated factors in children and adolescents. STUDY DESIGN: Standardized RHR measurements with an oscillometric device were obtained from 3- to 17-year-olds who participated in the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (n = 11 986). Age- and sex-specific RHR percentiles were derived using flexible age-dependent modeling. Linear regression was used to test associations of RHR and associated factors. RESULTS: RHR decreased with age and mean RHR was on average 3.0 beats per minute (bpm) higher in girls than in boys (P < .01). The 95th RHR-KiGGS-percentile (P95) in boys and girls are up to 10 bpm lower than P95 based on pooled heterogeneous international studies and more similar to percentiles based on population data from NHANES (higher or lower by ≤5 bpm, depending on age). Factors independently associated with RHR in both sexes were age, SBP and height in children aged 3-10 years; and age, systolic blood pressure, and high aerobic fitness in adolescents aged 11-17 years. In girls, we further found an association between RHR and underweight (OR 3.3 and 4.7 for underweight girls aged 3-10 and 11-17, respectively, compared with normal weight girls). Associations between RHR and aerobic fitness, physical activity, and media use were stronger in boys than in girls. CONCLUSION: This study provides population-based RHR percentiles and evidence for sex-dependent associations of cardiovascular risk factors with RHR in children and adolescents, many of which are lifestyle related.

Constraints, synergies and avenues for scaling up breastfeeding, antibiotics for pneumonia and IMCI interventions in the Cusco region, Peru.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this qualitative case study was to assess the feasibility of scaling up exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, antibiotics for pneumonia and integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) child interventions in three districts of the Cusco region, Peru. METHODS: During field visits, constraints, synergies and solutions to the implementation of the selected interventions were collected through observational recording and interviews of mothers, health workers, and health managers/decision makers. Results are presented for each intervention according to the health system level where they occurred: mother/community, health worker, health centre, and political/managerial levels. FINDINGS: This case study demonstrates that it is feasible to scale up exclusive breastfeeding, antibiotics for pneumonia and IMCI interventions in poverty-stricken rural areas of a low-income country. Factors that helped and hindered the implementation were identified for each intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The need for a coherent multi-sector approach that includes regulation, implementation and monitoring of health policies and education of all involved stakeholders was apparent. This study also demonstrates that global health interventions need to undergo local adaptation. Identifying local constraints and facilitating factors in a systematic way as proposed in this study is a useful step to increase their effectiveness and reach at the local level and to identify areas for improvement in the original intervention policies.