Cardiac Risk Evaluation for Elementary School Children

Abstract

This study examined cardiac risk factors in school-age children. Specific risk factors focused on were smoking, hypertension, elevated blood cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, and nutritional imbalances. All consenting students in grades one through five participated. Components of the study included screenings and a questionnaire. Children (N= 357) were screened for height/weight, resting pulse, blood pressure, cholesterol, skin-fold thickness, and fitness. The questionnaire included an assessment of family diseases and family health practices. Results showed no significant relationships between cholesterol and family history of hypercholesterolemia or coronary heart disease, cholesterol and overweight, cholesterol and amount of time students exercised and the amount of time student's mothers exercised (r= -0.25, p= .0028), cholesterol elevation and exercise (r= -0.25, p-value = 0.007), and exercise and the frequency of eating out in a restaurant (r= -0.18, p-value = 0.03).