RT Book, Section
A1 Parnell, Aimee
A1 Dorfman, Aaron
A1 Brothers, Julie
A2 Gleason, Marie Murphy
A2 Rychik, Jack
A2 Shaddy, Robert
SR Print(0)
ID 56748211
T1 Chapter 15. Preventive Cardiology
T2 Pediatric Practice: Cardiology
YR 2012
FD 2012
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-176320-2
LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=56748211
RD 2024/04/18
AB Pediatric  preventive  cardiology  has  increased  in  importance  over  the  past  several  years  due  to  the  increasing  number  of  children  with  obesity,  hypertension,  and  dyslipidemia.  In  adults,  elevated  blood  pressure,  abdominal  obesity,  atherogenic  dyslipidemia,  and  elevated  plasma  glucose  levels  are  collectively  known  as  the  metabolic  syndrome.  The  metabolic  syndrome  is  associated  with  significantly  increased  risk  of  developing  premature  cardiovascular  disease.  Although  there  is  currently  no  agreed  upon  definition  of  metabolic  syndrome  in  children  and  adolescents,  we  do  know  that  the  extent  of  atherosclerotic  progression  is  significantly  correlated  with  several  cardiovascular  risk  factors  found  in  childhood,  including  elevated  total  cholesterol  and  low-density  lipoprotein  cholesterol,  low  levels  of  high-density  lipoprotein  cholesterol,  obesity,  high  blood  pressure,  and  smoking.  Identifying  children  at  a  young  age  is  beneficial  because  it  allows  for  early  implementation  of  dietary  and  lifestyle  changes  that  may  help  delay  the  onset  or  progression  of  atherosclerosis.  Indeed,  in  2011,  integrated  cardiovascular  risk  reduction  guidelines  were  published,  specifically  focusing  on  the  promotion  of  cardiovascular  health  in  children  and  adolescents  as  well  as  the  identification  and  management  of  certain  cardiovascular  risk  factors.1  This  chapter  will  focus  on  3  main  areas  of  preventive  cardiology:  obesity,  hypertension,  and  dyslipidemia.