[Influence of birth weight on the lipid profile and blood pressure in Madrid adolescents]. / Influencia del peso de recién nacido en el perfil lipídico y la presión arterial en adolescentes de Madrid.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between birth weight and the lipid profile and blood pressure in adolescents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross sectional study. We studied seven hundred and forty adolescents aged 18 who attended four different schools located in Madrid. Birth weight (BW) data were obtained from delivery records. All subjects underwent a physical examination, including measurement of blood pressure. Plasma lipids were determined using standardised methods after ten hour fasting. RESULTS: Total cholesterol and cholesterol-LDL in males and females with BW < 3.000 grams were statistically greater than those from subjects with BW > 3,800 grams. Male adolescents also showed a difference in the apolipoprotein B (ApoB) levels. We only found a statistically significant difference in the diastolic blood pressure of male adolescents belonging to the extreme birth weight quintiles. CONCLUSIONS: We found an inverse relationship between birth weight and total cholesterol and cholesterol LDL levels in males and females. This association was also noted in Apo B concentrations in male adolescents. The only influence birth weight had on blood pressure was on the diastolic blood pressure of males.

[Socioeconomic status and resource consumption in primary care]. / Nivel socioeconómico y consumo de recursos sanitarios en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of socioeconomic status on healthcare demand and resource consumption in our population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a cross sectional, retrospective study of socioeconomic status and healthcare and pharmaceutical consumption in randomly selected patients from five primary care pediatric clinics in Madrid. The chi-square test was used to compare percentages. For the remaining analyses, nonparametric tests were used after confirming that the data followed non-normal distribution. RESULTS: We compared 684 questionnaires. Patients in the most disadvantaged socioeconomic levels consumed a greater number of drugs than those in more privileged levels (mean 0.79 vs. 0.47, p = 0.04). The mean pharmacological expenditure was also higher in the lowest socioeconomic levels than in the highest levels (5.28 Euros vs. 2.21 Euros, respectively; p = 0.001). No significant differences were found among socioeconomic levels in the number of consultations or diagnostic tests requested. The number of consultations was higher in younger patients (p < 0.001) or in those with chronic diseases (p = 0.001). Drug consumption was increased in the most disadvantaged levels (p = 0.002) and in patients with chronic diseases (p < 0.001). Lastly, pharmacological expenditure expressed in Euros was also higher in the lowest socioeconomic levels (p = 0.001) and in patients with chronic diseases (p < 0.001) but was lower if one of the parents was a foreigner (p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: We found a relationship between socioeconomic level and drug consumption and its attributable cost. These data should be confirmed by broader studies.

[The prevalence of anemia in the children and adolescents of Madrid]. / Prevalencia de anemia en niños y adolescentes de Madrid.

Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are very important disorders in childhood because, during this stage of life, the confluence of different factors can lead to iron deficiency. During childhood, there are rapid growth periods in which the need for iron increases and these needs are not always compensated for by a sufficient iron intake. We have studied a sample of 2,224 schoolchildren, both males and females, between the ages of 2 and 18 years, from five different schools in the Community of Madrid. The prevalence of anemia was studied by determining the hemoglobin, MCV and MCHC, whereas iron deficiency was assessed by measurement of serum iron. In our study population, the prevalence of iron deficiency was 4.94% and the rate of iron deficiency anemia was 0.94%. This disorder is predominant in 13 to 15 year olds (3.7% of the males and 3.53% of the females showed hemoglobin values below the reference range). In addition 6.73% of this group were iron deficient. The MCV was decreased in 2.69% of the subjects, after the exclusion of six children with thalassemia trait.

[Lipid profiles of children and adolescents in Madrid]. / Patrón lipídico de niños y adolescentes de Madrid.

We have studied 2,224 children and adolescents of both sexes, ranging between 2 and 18 years of age, at five schools in the city of Madrid. We determined the lipid profile: total cholesterol (T-C), cholesterol bound to high density lipoproteins (HDL-C), cholesterol bound to low density lipoproteins (LDL-C), cholesterol bound to very low density lipoproteins (VLDL-C), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein AI and apolipoprotein B100 (Apo A1 and Apo B100, respectively). In relationship to age and sex, in males, as age increases, there is an elevation in LDL-C and TG and a diminution in T-C, HDL-C, Apo AI and Apo B100. There are no changes in VLDL-C. In females, there is a diminution in LDL-C, TG, Apo-B100 and an increase in HDL-C, Apo AI and T-C, with the increase in T-C being found only in those older than 15 years.

[The effect of the socioeconomic level on the lipid pattern in children and adolescents]. / Influencia del nivel socioeconómico en el patrón lipídico de niños y adolescentes.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between socioeconomic status and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors in children from Madrid. METHODS: We studied 2224 boys and girls, ages 2-18 years, attending five different school centers. They were divided into three socioeconomic groups: low class, middle-low class and middle high class, in regard to their parent's occupation and educational attainment. The evaluation included a blood analysis of serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (CT), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA), apolipoprotein B100 (Apo B), and the Apo A/Apo B and LDL/HDL ratios. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between socioeconomic status and total cholesterol, Apo A, Apo B and Apo A/Apo B, whereas socioeconomic status and triglycerides were inversely related. The LDL/HDL ratio varied according to age. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike some previously published studies, we found that children belonging to high socioeconomic status have a more atherogenic lipid profile than those of middle low or low socioeconomic levels.