Endocrine Abstracts

The incidence of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and obesity is constantly growing in Latvia. Obesity in children is a globally progressing public health problem that can lead to serious metabolic abnormalities - insulin resistance and associated metabolic syndrome.

Our objective was to determine the risk factors that contribute to the development of arterial hypertension in schoolchildren. 238 schoolboys between the ages of 7 and 19 were screened. Special questionnaire forms were worked out and included 25 parameters that were analysed. The data were processed according to the BMDP annually updated system (Systat 9, University of California, US).

The results suggest that metabolic changes are most intensive between the ages of 14 and 17. During this period elevation of systolic arterial blood pressure in boys is most closely associated with anthropometric parameters, namely, weight and age (r = 0.66; p < 0.01); height (r = 0.63; p < 0.01); chest circumference (r = 0.59; p < 0.01); hip and waist circumference (r = 0.52 - 0.47; p < 0.01); fat metabolism indices: BMI (r = 0.54; p < 0.01); fat % (r = 0.12; p < 0.01); blood glucose level (r = 0.47; p < 0.01); thyroid enlargement (r = 0.28; p < 0.01); physical activity (r = 0.20; p < 0.01).

In the age group 14-17 there is a manifest increase of diastolic blood pressure which very closely correlates with the growth of BMI (r² = 0.12).

Our observations show that arterial hypertension in school-age boys in Latvia is associated with anthropometric, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism data which indicate that metabolic syndrome risk factors and clinical symptoms begin to show as early as school age.