Prevalence of traditional and novel markers of cardiovascular disease risk in Scottish adolescents: socioeconomic effects

Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2012 Oct;37(5):829-39. doi: 10.1139/h2012-052. Epub 2012 Jun 12.

Abstract

Information on the health status and physical activity of Scottish adolescents is limited. This study examines the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in Scottish adolescents by socioeconomic status (SES). Participants were recruited from two high schools that differed in the SES of the students in attendance. The sample included 73 boys and 34 girls (16.4 ± 0.6 years). Variables included anthropometry, physical activity, physical fitness, blood pressure, diet, and 11 metabolic markers of CVD risk. Significant sex differences (P ≤ 0.01) were noted for stature, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular power, sprint speed, and several CVD risk factors: high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Boys from a lower SES had significantly higher levels of glucose and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) but lower levels of adiponectin compared with boys from a higher SES. Girls from a lower SES had significantly (P ≤ 0.01) higher glucose and PAI-1 levels but lower levels of insulin and adiponectin than girls from a higher SES. High fat diets, low physical activity levels, and elevated CRP and total cholesterol levels were the CVD risk factors most commonly identified as being at-risk levels in this cohort, regardless of sex or SES. SES differences were not consistently apparent, but several CVD risk factors were identified as elevated in this sample of adolescents, regardless of sex or SES.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adiponectin / blood
  • Adolescent
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / blood*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / economics
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Cohort Studies
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Male
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / blood
  • Prevalence
  • Risk
  • Scotland / epidemiology
  • Sedentary Behavior
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Socioeconomic Factors

Substances

  • ADIPOQ protein, human
  • Adiponectin
  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Insulin
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
  • SERPINE1 protein, human
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Cholesterol