Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents with Fontan Circulation

Abstract Background: Long-term outcomes of patients with Fontan circulation are uncertain regarding the prevalence and role of risk factors (RFs) such as increased body mass index (BMI), arterial hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. Objectives: To describe the prevalence of RFs in patients with univentricular heart, with variable follow-up times. Methods: This mixed cohort study was performed with 66 patients, who underwent blood count, fasting blood glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP), and lipid profile tests; systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) measurements; and anthropometric and sociodemographic data collection. Cardiovascular RFs among first-degree relatives and physical activity habits were also assessed. Prevalence was described using proportions, with a 95% confidence interval. Continuous variables (height, weight, age, SBP, DBP) were described as means and standard deviations (m±SD). Associations between RFs were assessed using chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests. Spearman's correlation was used for analyzing CRP and the presence of 2 or more RFs. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check for data normality. Statistical significance considered p<0.05. Results: In our population, 19.7% were overweight, mean SBP was 89.44±37.4, and mean DBP was 60.0±26.08. The most prevalent diseases in the interviewees' families were systemic arterial hypertension (30.3%), obesity (16.7%), and 2 or more cardiovascular RFs among first-degree relatives (13.8%). We observed a trend towards significance between the presence of 2 familial RFs and overweight, as well as a risk profile for cardiovascular disease. There was an association between the BMI percentile, the presence of 2 or more RFs (p<0.05), and CRP (p<0.01). Conclusions: Overweight is common in patients with univentricular heart, being related to more than 2 cardiovascular RFs among first-degree relatives; physical inactivity and changes in lipid profiles are also frequent.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Brazilian adolescents over time: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the burden of excess weight in Brazilian adolescents. DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis. SETTING: We searched the literature in four databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, SciELO and LILACS). Studies were included if they had cross-sectional or cohort design and enrolled Brazilian adolescents. Studies based on self-reported measures were excluded. Random effect models were used to calculate prevalence estimates and their 95 % CI. PARTICIPANTS: Brazilian adolescents (10 to 19 years old). RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-one studies were included. Trend analyses showed a significant increase in the prevalence of excess weight in the last decades: 8·2 % (95 % CI 7·7, 8·7) until year 2000, 18·9 (95 % CI 14·7, 23·2) from 2000 to 2009, and 25·1 % (95 % CI 23·4, 26·8) in 2010 and after. A similar temporal pattern was observed in the prevalence of overweight and obesity separately. In sensitivity analyses, lower prevalence of excess weight was found in older adolescents and those defined using International Obesity Task Force cut-off points. The Southeast and South regions had the highest prevalence of excess weight, overweight and obesity. No significant difference in prevalence by sex was found, except for studies before the year 2000. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Brazilian adolescents is high and continues to rise. Public policies on an individual level and targeting modifications in the obesogenic environment are necessary.

Is there an association between the nutritional and functional parameters and congestive heart failure severity?

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The association between markers of nutritional status (handgrip strength [HGS] and adductor pollicis muscle thickness [APMT]) and clinical markers of congestive heart failure (CHF) severity is currently unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between HGS, APMT, as markers of nutritional status and CHF severity. METHODS: APMT and muscle strength was measured in 500 CHF patients bilaterally. Nutritional status was assessed by Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Functional classification was performed according to guidelines provided by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) and ejection fraction (EF) was measured to classify CHF severity. Poisson regression, adjusted for sex and age, was performed to verify the association between nutritional factors and CHF severity markers. RESULTS: The majority of patients (75.8%) were ≥60 years old and 53.6% were either overweight or obese. SGA identified 42.2% of the patients as malnourished, 12.6% with low APMT, and 29.0% with low HGS. Most of the patients were classified as NYHA III/IV (56.8%) and almost one third of patients (31.1%) had EF ≤ 40%. HGS and APMT were significantly lower in malnourished male patients and in male patients with a lower EF or worse NYHA classification. Even after controlling for the EF, malnourished patients showed a 2.5-fold increased risk of CHF severity by NYHA classification and for each kilogram of increase in the HGS, there was a significant decrease of 2% in the risk (RR: 0.98 p < 0.001). Malnourished patients presented a 52% higher risk (RR: 1.52 p = 0.016) of having a low EF, whereas for each APMT increase, there was a 5% decrease in the risk (RR: 0.95 p < 0.001), even after controlling for NYHA classification. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition is highly prevalent among patients with CHF and it is associated with the functional class and the severity of the disease. Objective markers of strength (HGS) and muscle (APMT) are independently associated with the CHF severity, assessed by NYHA classification and EF, respectively, even after adjustment for other confounding variables. Thus, the implementation of these nutritional assessment methods in hospital routines, either by SGA or by objective methods, such as HGS and APMT, can configure effective measurements for early detection of malnutrition in patients at higher risk, and possibly a way to avoid their further functional decline.

Nutritional knowledge and body mass index: A cross-sectional study / Conhecimento nutricional e índice de massa corporal: um estudo transversal

Summary Objective: To verify the knowledge about food and nutrition and its association with the nutritional status of obese patients with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and to identify the relationship between information sources and level of knowledge. Method: Cross-sectional study that included 263 outpatients of a cardiology referral hospital in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The participants filled out a questionnaire on socioeconomic data and knowledge about food and nutrition and had their nutritional status evaluated by body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-hip ratio (WHR). Results: BMI showed a significant inverse association with the percentage of correct answers (p=0.002), as well as WC (p=0.000) and WHR (p<0.001). This was also true for education (p<0.001) and female gender (p=0.005) compared to males. More than 60% of patients reported using television and 23% reported using newspaper as sources of nutritional information. Conclusion: Our study revealed a significant association between BMI and the level of knowledge about foods, showing that there is need for more information on obesity-related NCDs for greater understanding by patients.

Resumo Objetivo: Verificar os conhecimentos sobre alimentação e nutrição e sua associação com o estado nutricional de pacientes obesos portadores de doenças crônicas, e identificar a relação das fontes de informação com o nível de conhecimentos. Método: Estudo transversal realizado com 263 pacientes ambulatoriais de um hospital de referência em cardiologia em Porto Alegre, RS. Os indivíduos preencheram um questionário sobre dados socioeconômicos e conhecimentos sobre alimentação e nutrição, tendo seu estado nutricional avaliado por meio de índice de massa corporal (IMC), circunferência da cintura (CC) e relação cintura quadril (RCQ). Resultados: O IMC apresentou associação inversa e significativa com o percentual de acertos (p=0,002), assim como a CC (p<0,001) e a RCQ (p<0,001). E também a escolaridade (p<0,001) e o sexo feminino (p=0,005) em relação ao masculino. Mais de 60% dos pacientes relataram utilizar televisão e 23% jornal como fontes de informação sobre alimentação. Conclusão: No presente estudo, houve associação significativa entre IMC e nível de conhecimento sobre alimentação, demonstrando que há necessidade de maior divulgação sobre as doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (DCNT) para que haja maior entendimento por parte dos pacientes.

Nutritional knowledge and body mass index: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the knowledge about food and nutrition and its association with the nutritional status of obese patients with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and to identify the relationship between information sources and level of knowledge. METHOD: Cross-sectional study that included 263 outpatients of a cardiology referral hospital in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The participants filled out a questionnaire on socioeconomic data and knowledge about food and nutrition and had their nutritional status evaluated by body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-hip ratio (WHR). RESULTS: BMI showed a significant inverse association with the percentage of correct answers (p=0.002), as well as WC (p=0.000) and WHR (p<0.001). This was also true for education (p<0.001) and female gender (p=0.005) compared to males. More than 60% of patients reported using television and 23% reported using newspaper as sources of nutritional information. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed a significant association between BMI and the level of knowledge about foods, showing that there is need for more information on obesity-related NCDs for greater understanding by patients.

Healthy School, Happy School: Design and Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial Designed to Prevent Weight Gain in Children.

BACKGROUND:: Schools have become a key figure for the promotion of health and obesity interventions, bringing the development of critical awareness to the construction and promotion of a healthy diet, physical activity, and the monitoring of the nutritional status in childhood and adolescence. OBJECTIVES:: To describe a study protocol to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention designed to improve knowledge of food choices in the school environment. METHODS:: This is a cluster-randomized, parallel, two-arm study conducted in public elementary and middle schools in Brazil. Participants will be children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 15 years, from both genders. The interventions will be focusing on changes in lifestyle, physical activities and nutritional education. Intervention activities will occur monthly in the school's multimedia room or sports court. The control group arm will receive usual recommendations by the school. The primary outcome variable will be anthropometric measures, such as body mass index percentiles and levels of physical activity by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. RESULTS:: We expect that after the study children will increase the ingestion of fresh food, reduce excessive consumption of sugary and processed foods, and reduce the hours of sedentary activities. CONCLUSION:: The purpose of starting the dietary intervention at this stage of life is to develop a knowledge that will enable for healthy choices, providing opportunities for a better future for this population. FUNDAMENTO:: As escolas tornaram-se essenciais para a promoção de saúde e de intervenções para obesidade, propiciando o desenvolvimento de consciência crítica para a construção e promoção de dieta saudável, atividade física e monitoramento do status nutricional na infância e adolescência. OBJETIVOS:: Descrever um protocolo de estudo para avaliar a eficiência de uma intervenção projetada para aprimorar o conhecimento sobre escolhas alimentares no ambiente escolar. MÉTODOS:: Estudo clínico randomizado em cluster, paralelo, de dois braços, conduzido em escolas públicas de ensino fundamental e médio no Brasil. Os participantes serão crianças e adolescentes entre 5 e 15 anos de idade, dos dois sexos. As intervenções se concentrarão em mudanças de estilo de vida, atividade física e educação nutricional. As atividades de intervenção ocorrerão mensalmente na sala de multimídia ou quadra de esportes das escolas. O grupo controle receberá as recomendações usuais através da escola. O desfecho primário será a mudança nas medidas antropométricas, como índice de massa corporal e os níveis de atividade física conforme o Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física. RESULTADOS:: Esperamos que, após o estudo, as crianças aumentem o consumo de alimentos frescos, reduzam o consumo excessivo de alimentos açucarados e processados, e reduzam as horas gastas em atividades sedentárias. CONCLUSÃO:: O propósito de iniciar a intervenção dietética nessa fase da vida é desenvolver o conhecimento que permitirá escolhas saudáveis, propiciando oportunidades para um melhor futuro para essa população.

Healthy School, Happy School: Design and Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial Designed to Prevent Weight Gain in Children / Escola Saudável é mais Feliz: Design e Protocolo de um Ensaio Clinico Randomizado Desenvolvido para Prevenir o Ganho de Peso em Crianças

Abstract Background: Schools have become a key figure for the promotion of health and obesity interventions, bringing the development of critical awareness to the construction and promotion of a healthy diet, physical activity, and the monitoring of the nutritional status in childhood and adolescence. Objectives: To describe a study protocol to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention designed to improve knowledge of food choices in the school environment. Methods: This is a cluster-randomized, parallel, two-arm study conducted in public elementary and middle schools in Brazil. Participants will be children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 15 years, from both genders. The interventions will be focusing on changes in lifestyle, physical activities and nutritional education. Intervention activities will occur monthly in the school's multimedia room or sports court. The control group arm will receive usual recommendations by the school. The primary outcome variable will be anthropometric measures, such as body mass index percentiles and levels of physical activity by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: We expect that after the study children will increase the ingestion of fresh food, reduce excessive consumption of sugary and processed foods, and reduce the hours of sedentary activities. Conclusion: The purpose of starting the dietary intervention at this stage of life is to develop a knowledge that will enable for healthy choices, providing opportunities for a better future for this population.

Resumo Fundamento: As escolas tornaram-se essenciais para a promoção de saúde e de intervenções para obesidade, propiciando o desenvolvimento de consciência crítica para a construção e promoção de dieta saudável, atividade física e monitoramento do status nutricional na infância e adolescência. Objetivos: Descrever um protocolo de estudo para avaliar a eficiência de uma intervenção projetada para aprimorar o conhecimento sobre escolhas alimentares no ambiente escolar. Métodos: Estudo clínico randomizado em cluster, paralelo, de dois braços, conduzido em escolas públicas de ensino fundamental e médio no Brasil. Os participantes serão crianças e adolescentes entre 5 e 15 anos de idade, dos dois sexos. As intervenções se concentrarão em mudanças de estilo de vida, atividade física e educação nutricional. As atividades de intervenção ocorrerão mensalmente na sala de multimídia ou quadra de esportes das escolas. O grupo controle receberá as recomendações usuais através da escola. O desfecho primário será a mudança nas medidas antropométricas, como índice de massa corporal e os níveis de atividade física conforme o Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física. Resultados: Esperamos que, após o estudo, as crianças aumentem o consumo de alimentos frescos, reduzam o consumo excessivo de alimentos açucarados e processados, e reduzam as horas gastas em atividades sedentárias. Conclusão: O propósito de iniciar a intervenção dietética nessa fase da vida é desenvolver o conhecimento que permitirá escolhas saudáveis, propiciando oportunidades para um melhor futuro para essa população.

Serum C-reactive protein levels and body mass index in children and adolescents with CHD.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of overweight in children with CHD is about 26.9%. Increase in adipose tissue is related to the secretion of proinflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein. Assuming that children with CHD are exposed to other inherent risk factors for heart disease, our objective was to evaluate the correlation between levels of C-reactive protein and body mass index in children and adolescents with CHD. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 377 children and adolescents with CHD in a clinical setting of a reference hospital was carried out. C-reactive protein data were collected after 12 hours of fasting. Nutritional status was classified according to body mass index. The patients were divided into three groups: cyanotic, acyanotic, and minimal heart defects (controls). RESULTS: The mean age was 9.9±4.2 years, and 53.6% of the sample included males. The cyanotic group represented 22.3%, acyanotic 42.2%, and minimal defects 35.5% of the sample. The average body mass index percentile was 57.23±32.06. The median values of C-reactive protein were as follows: cyanotic 0.340, acyanotic with clinical repercussion 0.203, and minimal defects 0.128. There was a significant difference between the minimal defects and the cyanotic groups (p=0.023). There was a significant correlation between C-reactive protein and body mass index percentile (r=0.293, p<0.01). C-reactive protein levels were higher in girls (p=0.034). There were no significant correlations between C-reactive protein and age or birth weight. CONCLUSION: The correlation between body mass index percentile and C-reactive protein was confirmed in this population. The prevention of overweight is paramount to avoid overlapping modifiable risk factors to those already inherent to the CHD.

Hypertensives' Knowledge About High-Sodium Foods and Their Behavior / Conhecimento e Atitudes Sobre Alimentos Ricos em Sódio por Pacientes Hipertensos

Abstract Background: In Brazil, the prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is approximately 30% of the total population. In 2010, SAH was the cause of death of about 9.4 million people worldwide. A healthy dietary pattern is important to maintain proper blood pressure levels and, consequently, disease control. Objectives: To describe the knowledge and practices of hypertensive patients cared for at a public hypertension outpatient clinic, and its relationship with high-sodium food. Methods: We applied a questionnaire to patients with questions related to sociodemographics, dietary pattern, frequency of ingestion of certain foods, and knowledge about their own disease. Results: We studied 221 patients, 56.1% of whom were women, and 53.8% had only elementary education. Their mean age was 57.7 ±13.5 years, and 75.6% of them reported having high blood pressure, and 11.3%, diabetes mellitus. Regarding dietary pattern, 62% used ready-to-use seasonings, but 94.1% reported not adding extra salt to their ready meals. Regarding patients' knowledge about high-sodium foods and SAH, only 8 patients had 100% of right answers, 37 patients had 73.8%, and 42 patients, 57% of right answers. Conclusion: Knowledge about SAH prevention and high-sodium foods was insufficient. Based on this study's findings, more effective educational strategies targeted at this population can be developed.

Resumo Fundamento: No Brasil, a prevalência de hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS) é aproximadamente 30% do total da população. No mundo, HAS é a causa de morte de cerca de 9,4 milhões de pessoas. Um padrão alimentar saudável é importante para a manutenção de níveis pressóricos adequados e, consequentemente, controle da doença. Objetivos: Descrever o conhecimento e as práticas alimentares de pacientes hipertensos sobre a HAS, relacionando-a com alimentos ricos em sódio. Métodos: Aplicou-se aos pacientes um questionário contendo perguntas relacionadas ao seu padrão alimentar, hábitos e frequência de consumo de determinados alimentos e conhecimento sobre a doença e condições sociodemográficas. Resultados: Avaliaram-se 221 pacientes, sendo 56,1% mulheres, 53,8% com ensino fundamental incompleto, e média de idade de 57,7±13,5 anos. Desses, 75,6% referiram ser portadores de HAS e 11,3% eram diabéticos. Em relação ao padrão alimentar, verificou-se que 62% utilizam temperos prontos para o preparo das refeições, porém 94,1% referiram não adicionar sal à refeição pronta. Em relação ao conhecimento dos pacientes quanto aos alimentos com alto teor de sódio e à HAS, apenas 8 acertaram 100% das questões do questionário (14 acertos = 100%), 37 pacientes tiveram 73,8% de acertos e 42 pacientes, 57% de acertos. Conclusão: O conhecimento sobre prevenção da HAS e alimentos ricos em sódio foi considerado insuficiente. Com base nesses achados, será possível elaborar estratégias educativas mais efetivas e direcionadas para essa população.

Hypertensives' Knowledge About High-Sodium Foods and Their Behavior.

BACKGROUND: In Brazil, the prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is approximately 30% of the total population. In 2010, SAH was the cause of death of about 9.4 million people worldwide. A healthy dietary pattern is important to maintain proper blood pressure levels and, consequently, disease control. OBJECTIVES: To describe the knowledge and practices of hypertensive patients cared for at a public hypertension outpatient clinic, and its relationship with high-sodium food. METHODS: We applied a questionnaire to patients with questions related to sociodemographics, dietary pattern, frequency of ingestion of certain foods, and knowledge about their own disease. RESULTS: We studied 221 patients, 56.1% of whom were women, and 53.8% had only elementary education. Their mean age was 57.7 ±13.5 years, and 75.6% of them reported having high blood pressure, and 11.3%, diabetes mellitus. Regarding dietary pattern, 62% used ready-to-use seasonings, but 94.1% reported not adding extra salt to their ready meals. Regarding patients' knowledge about high-sodium foods and SAH, only 8 patients had 100% of right answers, 37 patients had 73.8%, and 42 patients, 57% of right answers. CONCLUSION: Knowledge about SAH prevention and high-sodium foods was insufficient. Based on this study's findings, more effective educational strategies targeted at this population can be developed.