Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2019; 112(6): 737-738

Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Childhood Claim for Public Health Policies

Tania L. R. Martinez, Abel Pereira , Anita L. R. Saldanha

DOI: 10.5935/abc.20190103

This Short Editorial is referred by the Research article "Relationship between Dyslipidemia, Cultural Factors, and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Schoolchildren".

Obesity is presently a pandemic public health problem not only in developed countries but also in developing ones. As its incidence is increasing in childhood and adolescence as well this issue becomes alarming considering its evolution and associations. The multiple comorbidities such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance that accompany obesity increase the risk of cardiovascular mortality whilst worsening quality of life in adults. It is always appropriate to reinforce the fact that the atherosclerotic process starts at an early stage in life^– as demonstrated in autopsies of children with strong association between LDL cholesterol levels prior to death and the presence of fatty streaks in the aorta. This observation has been documented in various reports in Brazil demonstrating that public health policies must be reinforced towards this problem.^–

In different approaches in schoolchildren of a city in Sao Paulo for over ten years we have been studying the impact of biochemical, anthropometric, nutritional status, clinical, socio-cultural and economic conditions.

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