"O meu coração bate saudável" - Results from a pilot project for health education in Portuguese children.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Childhood offers an excellent window of opportunity to start interventions to promote behavioral changes before unhealthy lifestyles become established, leading to cardiovascular diseases. The goal of this pilot educational project for children is the promotion of healthy lifestyles and cardiovascular health. METHODS: This project was implemented in 4th grade children and included teacher-led classroom activities, a lesson given by a cardiologist and a practical lesson with dietitians. The teacher received a manual containing information on the topics to be discussed in class with the pupils and the children received a book that addresses cardiovascular risk factors and prevention. The components included were diet (D), physical activity (PA) and human body and heart awareness (BH). At the beginning and at the end of the schoolyear, a questionnaire was applied to the children to assess knowledge (K), attitudes (A) and habits (H) on these topics. RESULTS: A total of 73 children from an urban public school in Lisbon, in a low to medium income area, participated in the project. Following the intervention, there was a 9.5% increase in the overall KAH score, mainly driven by the PA component (14.5%) followed by the BH component (12.3%). No improvement was observed for component D. The benefits were also more significant in children from a lower income area, suggesting that socioeconomic status is a determinant in the response obtained. CONCLUSIONS: An educational project for cardiovascular health can be implemented successfully in children aged 9 years, but longer and larger studies are necessary.

Remodelagem cardíaca adicional induzida pelo treinamento militar intenso em atletas de nível competitivo / Additional cardiac remodeling induced by intense military in competitive athletes

Fundamento: A remodelagem cardíaca depende da intensidade, da duração e do método de treinamento. Objetivo: Avaliar se o treinamento realizado em uma tropa especial portuguesa incrementa a remodelagem cardíaca em uma amostra de jovens que previamente praticavam esporte de competição. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo que incluiu 76 militares candidatos a tropas especiais, 45 dos quais praticavam previamente exercício físico de nível competitivo (> 10 horas por semana). Destes militares atletas, apenas 17 concluíram com sucesso o curso. A avaliação foi realizada com 6 meses de intervalo e incluiu história clínica completa, exame físico, sinais vitais, dados antropométricos e avaliação ecocardiográfica. Considerou-se significância estatística quando p < 0,05, com intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados: No final do curso, verificaram-se diminuição da porcentagem de massa gorda (19,1 ± 3,3% vs. 13,1 ± 3,5%; p < 0,01), aumento da porcentagem de massa muscular (41,3 ± 2,1% vs. 44,4 ± 1,8%; p < 0,01), e diminuição da pressão arterial sistólica, diastólica e frequência cardíaca. Em relação à remodelagem cardíaca, verificaram-se aumento do diâmetro diastólico do ventrículo esquerdo (49,7 ± 3,2 mm vs. 52,8 ± 3,4 mm; p < 0,01), aumento tendencial do volume do átrio esquerdo (27,3 ± 4,5 mL/m2 vs. 28,2 ± 4,1 mL/m2; p = 0,07) e aumento da massa do ventrículo esquerdo (93,1 ± 7,7g/m2 vs. 100,2 ± 11,4 g/m2; p < 0,01). As variáveis funcionais também sofreram alterações, com aumento do S' (15 (13-16) cm/s vs. 17 (16-18) cm/s; p < 0,01) e diminuição da fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (60 ± 6% vs. 54 ± 6%; p < 0,01). Conclusão: O treinamento físico militar intenso provocou remodelagem cardíaca adicional em atletas de nível competitivo, tanto estrutural como funcional

Background: Cardiac remodeling depends on the intensity, duration, and training method. Objective: To evaluate if the training performed in a Portuguese military special operations troop increases cardiac remodeling in a sample of young individuals who previously practiced competitive sports. Methods: A prospective study involving 76 military candidates for military special operations, 45 of whom previously practiced at competitive level (> 10 hours per week). Of these military athletes, only 17 successfully completed the course. The evaluation was performed at 6 months intervals and included a complete clinical history, physical examination, vital signs, anthropometric data and echocardiographic evaluation. Statistical significance was considered when p < 0.05, with a 95% confidence interval. Results: At the end of the course, there was a decrease in the percentage of fat mass (19.1 ± 3.3% vs. 13.1 ± 3.5%; p < 0.01), an increase in the percentage of lean mass (41.3 ± 2.1% vs. 44.4 ± 1.8%; p < 0.01), and decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. Regarding cardiac remodeling, there was an increase in left ventricular diastolic diameter (49.7 ± 3.2 mm vs. 52.8 ± 3.4 mm; p < 0.01), an increase trend in left atrial volume (27.3 ± 4.5 mL/m2 vs. 28.2 ± 4.1 mL/m2; p = 0.07) and increased left ventricular mass (93.1 ± 7.7 g/m2 vs.100.2 ± 11.4 g/m2 ; p < 0.01). Functional variables also changed, with an increase in S' (15 (13-16) cm/s vs. 17 (16-18) cm/s; p < 0,01) and a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (60 ± 6% vs. 54 ± 6%; p < 0.01). Conclusion: Intense military physical training resulted in additional cardiac remodeling in athletes of competitive level, both structural and functional

Exercise-induced cardiac remodeling in athletes and in special forces soldiers. / Remodelagem cardíaca induzida pelo exercício físico em atletas de nível competitivo e militares de forças especiais.

INTRODUCTION: Exercise-induced cardiac remodeling is frequent in athletes. This adaptation is structurally manifested by an increase in cardiac dimensions and mass. Soldiers are also subject to intense physical exercise, although with different characteristics. OBJECTIVE: To compare exercise-induced cardiac remodeling in competitive athletes and in soldiers on a special forces training course. METHODS: We studied 17 soldiers (all male and Caucasian, mean age 21±3 years) who completed a special forces course and 17 basketball players (47.3% male, 64.7% Caucasian, mean age 21±3 years). Assessment included a transthoracic echocardiogram and analysis of myocardial mechanics. This assessment was performed at the beginning and end of the military course and the sports season, respectively. RESULTS: Cardiac remodeling was observed in both groups. The soldiers presented a predominantly eccentric pattern, with increased left ventricular (LV) size (49.7±3.2 vs. 52.8±3.4 mm; p<0.01), increased LV mass (93.1±7.7 vs. 100.2±11.4 g/m2; p<0.01) and decreased relative wall thickness (0.40±0.1 vs. 0.36±0.1; p=0.05). The basketball players showed a concentric pattern, with decreased LV size (52.0±4.7 vs. 50.4±4.7 mm; p=0.05), and increased relative wall thickness (0.33±0.1 vs. 0.36±0.1; p=0.05). Although there was no significant difference in LV myocardial strain in the groups separately, when compared there was a significant decrease (-20.2±1.6% vs. -19.4±2.1%; p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Cardiac remodeling was frequent, with an eccentric pattern in soldiers and a concentric pattern in basketball players. Myocardial deformation may represent a physiological adaptation to physical exercise.

[Secondary Arterial Hypertension: Uncertainties in Diagnosis]. / Hipertensão Arterial Sistémica Secundária: Incertezas do Diagnóstico.

Arterial hypertension is regarded today as a global public health problem, and the prevalence rate in Portugal is 26.9%. According to the etiology, is classified into primary or secondary arterial hypertension. In about 90% of cases it is not possible to establish a cause, so is called primary arterial hypertension. In the remaining 5 to 10%, it can be identified secondary causes, which are potentially treatable. For secondary arterial hypertension study to be cost-effective, it is essential to understand which patients investigate, and evaluate the best strategy to adopt. The main causes identified as responsible for secondary arterial hypertension are: kidney disease; endocrine and vascular diseases and obstructive sleep apnea. Among these some are consensual, and others more controversial in the literature. In this regard we present two cases of arterial hypertension, which are potentially secondary in etiology, but still focus of debate.

A hipertensão arterial sistémica configura-se hoje como um problema de saúde pública mundial, sendo a taxa de prevalência em Portugal de 26,9%. De acordo com a sua etiologia classifica-se em hipertensão arterial sistémica primária ou secundária. Em cerca de 90% dos casos, não é possível estabelecer uma causa e por isso a hipertensão arterial sistémica denomina-se primária. Nos restantes 5% a 10%, pode ser identificada uma causa secundária, potencialmente tratável. Para que o estudo da hipertensão arterial sistémica secundária seja custo-eficaz, torna-se essencial perceber quais os doentes a investigar, com que meios, e qual a melhor estratégia a adotar. As principais causas apontadas como responsáveis pela hipertensão arterial sistémica secundária são: patologia renal; endócrina; vascular e síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono. Entre estas, algumas são consensuais e outras mais controversas na literatura. A este propósito apresentamos dois casos de hipertensão arterial sistémica, cuja etiologia potencialmente secundária ainda é foco de debate.

Overview of resistant hypertension: A glimpse of the cardiologist's current standpoint.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, resulting in increased incidence of cerebrovascular events, ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, and renal impairment. Thus, it is one of the most important preventable causes of premature morbidity and mortality. Despite current knowledge on the management of hypertension and the availability of several effective antihypertensive medications, uncontrolled hypertension remains a common and challenging clinical problem. Resistant hypertension is a complex condition with multiple contributing factors and overlapping comorbidities. Although there is limited hard evidence regarding resistant hypertension, our understanding of this condition has improved recently. This article will present an overview of resistant hypertension and highlight recent publications about this topic.