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  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">abc</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title>Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia</journal-title>
        <abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="publisher">Arq. Bras. Cardiol.</abbrev-journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn pub-type="ppub">0066-782X</issn>
      <issn pub-type="epub">1678-4170</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia - SBC</publisher-name>
        <publisher-loc>S&#227;o Paulo, SP, Brazil</publisher-loc>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id" specific-use="scielo-v3">Rk94FDkMph9rgL6K8S4nG7p</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="other">00001</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id" specific-use="scielo-v2">S0066-782X2005001500001</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id" specific-use="scielo-v1">S0066-782X(05)08500201</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1590/S0066-782X2005001500001</article-id>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Editorial</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>S&#237;ndrome metab&#243;lica em crian&#231;as e adolescentes</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Brand&#227;o</surname>
            <given-names>Ayrton Pires</given-names>
          </name>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff01"/>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Brand&#227;o</surname>
            <given-names>Andr&#233;a Ara&#250;jo</given-names>
          </name>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff01"/>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Berenson</surname>
            <given-names>Gerald S.</given-names>
          </name>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff02"/>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Fuster</surname>
            <given-names>Valentin</given-names>
          </name>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff03"/>
        </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <aff id="aff02">
        <addr-line>
          <named-content content-type="city">New Orleans</named-content>
          <named-content content-type="state">LA</named-content>
        </addr-line>
        <institution content-type="orgname">Tulane Center for Cardiovascular Health</institution>
        <institution content-type="orgdiv1">The Bogalusa Heart Study </institution>
        <country country="US">USA</country>
      </aff>
      <aff id="aff03">
        <addr-line>
          <named-content content-type="city">New York</named-content>
          <named-content content-type="state">NY</named-content>
        </addr-line>
        <institution content-type="orgname">World Heart Federation</institution>
        <institution content-type="orgdiv1">Mount Sinai School of Medicine </institution>
        <country country="US">USA</country>
      </aff>
      <aff id="aff01">
        <institution content-type="orgname">Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro</institution>
      </aff>
      <pub-date date-type="collection" publication-format="electronic">
        <month>08</month>
        <year>2005</year>
      </pub-date>
      <volume>85</volume>
      <issue>2</issue>
      <fpage>79</fpage>
      <lpage>81</lpage>
      <permissions>
        <license license-type="open-access" xlink:href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" xml:lang="en">
          <license-p>This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.</license-p>
        </license>
      </permissions>
      <pub-date publication-format="electronic" date-type="pub">
        <day>29</day>
        <month>09</month>
        <year>2005</year>
      </pub-date>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
  <body>
    <p>
      <bold>EDITORIAL</bold>
    </p>
    <p>S&#237;ndrome metab&#243;lica em crian&#231;as e adolescentes</p>
    <p>
      <bold>Metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents</bold>
    </p>
    <p>
      <bold>Ayrton Pires Brand&#227;o<sup>I</sup>; Andr&#233;a Ara&#250;jo Brand&#227;o<sup>I</sup>; Gerald S. Berenson<sup>II</sup>; Valentin Fuster<sup>III</sup></bold>
    </p>
    <p>Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro &#150; RJ, Tulane Center for Cardiovascular Health - New Orleans, LA, USA and Mount Sinai School of Medicine &#150; New York, NY, USA </p>
    <p><sup>I</sup>Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro </p>
    <p><sup>II</sup>The Bogalusa Heart Study, Tulane Center for Cardiovascular Health, New Orleans, LA, USA </p>
    <p><sup>III</sup>Presidente, World Heart Federation, Mount Sinai School of Medicine,New York, NY, USA</p>
    <p>
      <xref ref-type="corresp" rid="back10">Endere&#231;o para correspond&#234;ncia</xref>
    </p>
    <p>
      <bold>Doen&#231;a cardiovascular e s&#237;ndrome metab&#243;lica em pa&#237;ses subdesenvolvidos</bold>
    </p>
    <p>As doen&#231;as cardiovasculares representam a primeira causa de morte nos pa&#237;ses desenvolvidos e tamb&#233;m v&#234;m crescendo muito nos pa&#237;ses de economia em transi&#231;&#227;o e subdesenvolvidos<sup>1</sup>. Um conjunto de fatores de risco, identificados como s&#237;ndrome metab&#243;lica, representado pela hipertens&#227;o arterial, sobrepeso/obesidade, aumento dos triglic&#233;rides, diminui&#231;&#227;o do HDL colesterol e intoler&#226;ncia &#224; glicose/diabetes tipo 2 s&#227;o encontrados freq&#252;entemente nesses indiv&#237;duos<sup>2-4</sup>. N&#227;o se conhece como essa associa&#231;&#227;o leva &#224; aterosclerose coronariana, respons&#225;vel pela grande maioria dos &#243;bitos nesses indiv&#237;duos. Contudo, a presen&#231;a de resist&#234;ncia &#224; insulina, freq&#252;entemente identificada nesses indiv&#237;duos, leva a uma hiperinsulinemia que parece ter um importante papel na fisiopatologia da s&#237;ndrome metab&#243;lica, por meio da ativa&#231;&#227;o do sistema nervoso simp&#225;tico, reten&#231;&#227;o de s&#243;dio, al&#233;m de estimular o crescimento celular, todos eles relacionados com os fatores de risco e as doen&#231;as cardiovasculares<sup>3,4</sup>.</p>
    <p>
      <bold>A origem do problema pode estar no perfil de risco e na s&#237;ndrome metab&#243;lica em crian&#231;as e adolescentes</bold>
    </p>
    <p>A agrega&#231;&#227;o dos fatores de risco cardiovascular na popula&#231;&#227;o adulta &#233; um fato comum na pr&#225;tica cl&#237;nica. No entanto, nos &#250;ltimos vinte anos, essa mesma associa&#231;&#227;o vem sendo demonstrada na popula&#231;&#227;o jovem e freq&#252;entemente relacionada a uma hist&#243;ria familiar de s&#237;ndrome metab&#237;lica<sup>5-8</sup>. Em crian&#231;as e adolescentes, as altera&#231;&#245;es iniciais de cada um desses fatores podem ocorrer em associa&#231;&#245;es variadas, que mesmo de pequena express&#227;o determinam um perfil cardiovascular desfavor&#225;vel para esses jovens.</p>
    <p>No estudo de Bogalusa, a avalia&#231;&#227;o feita em 4.522 indiv&#237;duos na faixa et&#225;ria entre 5 e 38 anos, selecionados entre 1988 e 1996 para os componentes da s&#237;ndrome metab&#243;lica - &#237;ndice de adiposidade, insulina e glicose, triglic&#233;rides e HDL-c e PA - encontrou dois modelos independentes para o seu determinismo. Um dos modelos inclu&#237;a insulina/lip&#237;deos/glicose/&#237;ndice de adiposidade; o outro, apenas insulina/press&#227;o arterial. Os dois modelos explicaram 54,6% da vari&#226;ncia total na amostra, sugerindo uma liga&#231;&#227;o entre a altera&#231;&#227;o metab&#243;lica e o fator hemodin&#226;mico, cujo substrato comum foi a hiperinsulinemia/resist&#234;ncia &#224; insulina<sup>8</sup>. Estas mesmas altera&#231;&#245;es cl&#237;nicas seriam determinantes das les&#245;es ateroescler&#243;ticas precoces observadas em aut&#243;psia nestas popula&#231;&#245;es<sup>9-11</sup>.</p>
    <p>No Brasil, o Estudo do Rio de Janeiro, iniciado em 1983, foi desenhado para determinar a curva de press&#227;o arterial em 7.015 jovens na faixa et&#225;ria de 6 a 15 anos de idade, estratificados por sexo e n&#237;vel socio-econ&#244;mico, e evoluiu para a busca de agrega&#231;&#227;o de outros fatores de risco cardiovascular n&#227;o s&#243; nesta popula&#231;&#227;o, como tamb&#233;m nos seus familiares. Os principais resultados deste estudo mostraram uma rela&#231;&#227;o direta entre a press&#227;o arterial e o peso corporal<sup>12</sup>, agrega&#231;&#227;o da press&#227;o arterial e da massa corporal entre os membros de uma mesma fam&#237;lia<sup>13</sup>, &#237;ndices antropom&#233;tricos e press&#227;o arterial relacionados &#224; massa ventricular esquerda em adolescentes<sup>14</sup>, agrega&#231;&#227;o de press&#227;o arterial e fatores de risco metab&#243;licos em adolescente e seus familiares<sup>15</sup>, e hiperglicemia, hiperinsulinemia, sobrepeso e press&#227;o arterial elevada em adultos jovens<sup>16</sup>.</p>
    <p>Dentre todos os fatores de risco que fazem parte da s&#237;ndrome metab&#243;lica, contudo, a presen&#231;a de sobrepeso/obesidade aparece como o mais importante, especialmente nos Estados Unidos, onde a sua preval&#234;ncia aumentou de duas a quatro vezes, particularmente entre os afro-americanos e latino-americanos<sup>17</sup>. Esse mesmo fen&#244;meno tamb&#233;m tem sido observado em pa&#237;ses de economia em transi&#231;&#227;o, como o Brasil, como mostra a pesquisa realizada pelo Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estat&#237;stica<sup>18</sup> . O IBGE confirmou efetivamente uma evolu&#231;&#227;o no perfil antropom&#233;trico-nutricional de toda a popula&#231;&#227;o brasileira, incluindo crian&#231;as e adolescentes, no per&#237;odo compreendido entre 1974-1975 e 2002-2003 (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figs. 1</xref> e <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">2</xref>). Nesse per&#237;odo, houve uma queda apreci&#225;vel na preval&#234;ncia de desnutridos, mais acentuada no sexo masculino, enquanto o excesso de peso e a obesidade aumentaram continuamente e intensamente em ambos os sexos, embora maior entre as mulheres. &#202;nfase deve ser dada aos achados referentes &#224;s crian&#231;as e adolescentes que, nas mesmas regi&#245;es e no mesmo per&#237;odo, mostraram que a preval&#234;ncia de subnutridos reduziu em cerca de 50% enquanto o sobrepeso/obesidade dobrou em ambas as regi&#245;es<sup>19,20</sup>.</p>
    <fig id="fig1">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0079-00001-gf01.jpg"/></fig>
    <fig id="fig2">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0079-00001-gf02.jpg"/></fig>
    <p>O padr&#227;o de consumo alimentar tamb&#233;m foi avaliado nesse mesmo estudo e mostrou que o brasileiro pratica um padr&#227;o alimentar incorreto, independente das classes de rendimento, o qual consiste em: teor excessivo de a&#231;&#250;car, consumo insuficiente de frutas e hortali&#231;as e aumento do consumo excessivo de gorduras em geral, em especial de gorduras saturadas, particularmente entre fam&#237;lias de maior rendimento e localizadas nas regi&#245;es mais desenvolvidas: Sul, Sudeste e Centro-Oeste<sup>18</sup> .</p>
    <p>Nesse contexto, soma-se a grande tend&#234;ncia para o aumento do sedentarismo, observado nos estudos que avaliam a s&#237;ndrome metab&#243;lica, propiciando o aparecimento de altera&#231;&#245;es relacionadas com o metabolismo glic&#237;dico e lip&#237;dico e aumento da press&#227;o arterial, reconhecidos como fatores de risco importantes para as doen&#231;as cardiovasculares. Esses achados apontam para uma probabilidade real de aumento na taxa futura de morbidade e mortalidade cardiovascular e, com grande impacto socio-econ&#244;mico n&#227;o s&#243; para o Brasil como tamb&#233;m para todos os pa&#237;ses de economia em transi&#231;&#227;o.</p>
    <p>Medidas n&#227;o-medicamentosas s&#227;o a primeira atitude a ser tomada, buscando uma mudan&#231;a de estilo de vida centrado em atividade f&#237;sica regular e uma dieta balanceada<sup>21</sup>. O tratamento medicamentoso pode ser necess&#225;rio e, embora n&#227;o seja o desej&#225;vel, vem se tornando cada vez mais utilizado em pacientes com aumento da press&#227;o arterial, dislipidemia e diabetes<sup>21</sup>. O uso de medicamentos para o tratamento da obesidade pode tamb&#233;m ser considerado, embora a experi&#234;ncia ainda seja pequena e sem uma avalia&#231;&#227;o a longo prazo<sup>21</sup>.</p>
    <p>
      <bold>A import&#226;ncia da preven&#231;&#227;o prim&#225;ria em crian&#231;as e adolescentes</bold>
    </p>
    <p>A ado&#231;&#227;o de medidas de preven&#231;&#227;o prim&#225;ria em jovens tem sido reconhecida como de enorme import&#226;ncia no cen&#225;rio da abordagem das doen&#231;as cardiovasculares. A demonstra&#231;&#227;o da presen&#231;a da aterosclerose na inf&#226;ncia, na adolesc&#234;ncia e na fase adulta jovem, aliada ao maior conhecimento sobre os fatores de risco nessas idades, aponta para propostas de programas racionais e efetivos que tenham como objetivo intervir sobres esses fatores o mais precocemente poss&#237;vel<sup>21</sup>.</p>
    <p>As medidas preconizadas para essa faixa et&#225;ria se concentram na ado&#231;&#227;o de h&#225;bitos saud&#225;veis, com atividade f&#237;sica regular e absten&#231;&#227;o do fumo, evitando-se ainda o excesso de calorias, sal, gordura saturada e colesterol. Nesse sentido, medidas educacionais de sa&#250;de focadas na busca de um padr&#227;o alimentar saud&#225;vel, atividade f&#237;sica regular e melhoria do estilo de vida em geral devem ser direcionadas n&#227;o s&#243; para os jovens, mas tamb&#233;m para seus familiares, incentivadas por todos os m&#233;dicos, independente da sua especialidade<sup>22,23</sup></p>
    <p>A preven&#231;&#227;o espec&#237;fica da obesidade por meio da dieta e da atividade f&#237;sica deve ser a prioridade m&#225;xima, visto que o seu &#234;xito ter&#225; uma repercuss&#227;o direta e positiva na melhora da dislipidemia, hipertens&#227;o arterial e nas altera&#231;&#245;es do metabolismo dos carboidratos<sup>22,23</sup>.</p>
    <p>Os benef&#237;cios associados &#224; atividade f&#237;sica em jovens incluem a perda de peso, melhora dos par&#226;metros metab&#243;licos, redu&#231;&#227;o da press&#227;o arterial e da resist&#234;ncia &#224; insulina, bem-estar ps&#237;quico, predisposi&#231;&#227;o para manter a atividade f&#237;sica na idade adulta e, conseq&#252;entemente, diminui&#231;&#227;o de risco para doen&#231;a cardiovascular e aumento da expectativa de vida<sup>22,23</sup>.</p>
    <p>De uma forma geral, atualmente os jovens est&#227;o praticando menos exerc&#237;cio. A atra&#231;&#227;o pela televis&#227;o, pelos videogames e pelos computadores tende a mant&#234;-los dentro de casa. A inseguran&#231;a das grandes cidades inibe as caminhadas ou o andar de bicicleta nas ruas e nos parques. Nas escolas, as novas exig&#234;ncias curriculares t&#234;m diminu&#237;do a carga hor&#225;ria antes destinada &#224; atividade f&#237;sica. E por fim, as fam&#237;lias est&#227;o se tornando cada vez mais sedent&#225;rias, apontando este conjunto para a&#231;&#245;es direcionadas para modifica&#231;&#245;es no grupo familiar como um todo. No Brasil, o projeto "Floripa Saud&#225;vel 2040"<sup>24</sup>, rec&#233;m iniciado na cidade de Florian&#243;polis, baseado no programa <italic>"Health Ahead/Heart Smart</italic>" proposto pelo Estudo Bogalusa<sup>22</sup>, visa exatamente a intervir precocemente nas escolas, com o objetivo de mudar o estilo de vida j&#225; nesta faixa et&#225;ria.</p>
    <p>Programas governamentais que incluam &#225;reas espec&#237;ficas para a pr&#225;tica de exerc&#237;cio f&#237;sico, maior oferta de professores de educa&#231;&#227;o f&#237;sica e melhor seguran&#231;a p&#250;blica s&#227;o absolutamente necess&#225;rios<sup>21</sup>. Tamb&#233;m &#233; consensual que essas medidas s&#243; ser&#227;o alcan&#231;adas se houver participa&#231;&#227;o da fam&#237;lia, das escolas, das comunidades, num esfor&#231;o conjunto da sociedade e do seu governo.</p>
    <p>Atenta a este panorama, a <italic>World Heart Federation</italic> elegeu como tema para o Dia do Cora&#231;&#227;o, a ser comemorado no pr&#243;ximo dia 26 de setembro, o alerta contra a obesidade, "<italic>Healthy Weight, Healthy Shape</italic>", iniciativa com a qual todos n&#243;s deveremos nos envolver.</p>
    <p>Somente a atua&#231;&#227;o nessa etapa da vida ser&#225; capaz de efetivamente garantir um estilo de vida sadio para o sistema cardiovascular na fase adulta, e assim influir favoravelmente nas altas taxas de morbidade e mortalidade cardiovascular.</p>
    <p>
      <bold>Refer&#234;ncias</bold>
    </p>
    <p>1. Lakka HM, Laaksonen DE, Lakka TA, Niskanem LK, Kumpusalo E, Tuomilehto J et al. The metabolic syndrome and total cardiovascular disease mortality in middle-aged men. JAMA 2002;288:2709-716.</p>
    <p>2. Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Final Report. Circulation 2002;106:3143-421.</p>
    <p>3. Grundy SM, Brewer B, Cleeman JI, Smith Jr SC, Lenfant C. Definition of the metabolic syndrome. Report of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute/American Heart Association Conference on Scientific Issues Related to Definition. Circulation 2004;109:433-38.</p>
    <p>4. Brand&#227;o AP, Nogueira AR, Oliveira JE, Guimar&#227;es JI, Suplicy H, Brand&#227;o AA. (Coord). I Diretriz Brasileira de Diagn&#243;stico e Tratamento da S&#237;ndrome Metab&#243;lica. Arq Bras Cardiol 2005;84(Supl I):1-28.</p>
    <p>5. Berenson GS, Srinivasan SR, Bao W, Newman III WP, Tracy RE, Wattigney WA: Association between multiple cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis in children and young adults. N Eng J Med 1998;338:23:1650-56.</p>
    <p>6. Srinivasan SR, Myers L, Berenson GS. Predictability of childhood adiposity and insulin for developing insulin resistance syndrome (Syndrome X) in young adulthood: The Bogalusa Heart Study. Diabetes 2002;51:204-209.</p>
    <p>7. Steinberger J, Daniels SR. Obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes and cardiovascular risk in children. Circulation 2003;107:1448-453.</p>
    <p>8. Chen W, Srinivasan SR, Elkasabany A, Berenson GS. The association of cardiovascular risk factor clustering related to insulin resistance syndrome (Syndrome X) between young parents and their offspring: The Bogalusa Heart Study. Atherosclerosis 1999;145:197-205.</p>
    <p>9. Berenson GS, Wattigney W, Tracy R, Bao W, Srinivisan SR, Newman III WP. Atherosclerosis of the aorta and coronary arteries and cardiovascular risk factors in persons aged 6 to 30 years and studied at necropsy (the Bogalusa Heart Study). Am J Cardiol 1992;70:851-58.</p>
    <p>10. Xiangrong L, Shengxu L, Ulosoy E, Chen W, Srinivasan SR, Berenson GS. Childhood adiposity as a predictor of cardiac mass in adulthood. The Bogalusa Heart Study. Circulation 2004;110:3488-492.</p>
    <p>11. MacMahan CA, Gilding SS, Fayad ZA, Zieske AW, Malcon GT, Tracy RE et al. Risk score predict atherosclerotic lesions in young people. The Pathological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth Research Group. Arch Intern Med 2005;165:883-90.</p>
    <p>12. Brand&#227;o AP, Brand&#227;o AA, Araujo EMM. The significance of physical development on blood pressure curve of children between 6 and 9 years of age and its relationship with familial aggregation. J Hypertens 1989;7(Suppl 1): S37-S39.</p>
    <p>13. Brand&#227;o AP, Brand&#227;o AA, Araujo EMM, Oliveira RC. Familial aggregation of arterial blood pressure and possible genetic influence. Hypertension 1992;9(Suppl II):II-214-17.</p>
    <p>14. Brand&#227;o AA, Pozzan R, Albanesi F&#186; FM, Brand&#227;o AP. Role of anthropometric indexes and blood pressure as determinants of left ventricular mass and geometry in adolescents: The Rio de Janeiro Study. Hypertension 1995;26:1190-194.</p>
    <p>15. Magalh&#227;es MEC, Pozzan R, Brand&#227;o AA, Cerqueira RCO, Roussouli&#232;res ALS, Brand&#227;o AP. Early blood pressure level as a mark of familial aggregation of metabolic cardiovascular risk factors &#150; The Rio de Janeiro Study. J Hypertens 1998;16:1885-889.</p>
    <p>16. Pozzan R, Brand&#227;o AA, Silva SL, Brand&#227;o AP. Hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, overweight, and high blood pressure in young adults: The Rio de Janeiro Study. Hypertension 1997;30 (3pt2):650-53.</p>
    <p>17. Weiss R, Dziura J, Burgert TS, Tamborlane WV, Taksali SE, Yeckel CW et al. Obesity and the metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents. N Engl J Med 2004; 350:2362:374.</p>
    <p>18. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estat&#237;stica &#150; An&#225;lise da disponibilidade domiciliar de alimentos e do estado nutricional no Brasil. [acesso em mar&#231;o de 2005]. Dispon&#237;vel em &lt;<ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://www.ibge.gov.br">http://www.ibge.gov.br</ext-link>&gt;</p>
    <p>19. Monteiro CA, Mondini L, Souza ALM, Popkin BM. The nutrition transition in Brazil. Eur J Clin Nutr 1995;49:105-13.</p>
    <p>20. Caballero B. Global health: A nutrition paradox &#150; underweight and obesity in developing countries. N Engl J M&#233;d 2005;352:1514-516.</p>
    <p>21. Kavey RW, Daniels SR, Lauer RM, Atkins DL, Hayman LL, Taubert K. American Heart Association. Guidelines for Primary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Beginning Childhood. Circulation 2003;107:1562-566.</p>
    <p>22. Downey AM, Frank GC, Webber LS, Harsha DW, Virgilio SJ, Berenson GS et al. Implementation of "Heart Smart:" A cardiovascular school health promotion program. J Sch Health 1987;57:98-104.</p>
    <p>23. Hayman LL, Wiliams CL, Daniels SR, Steinberg J, Paridon S, Dennison BA. Cardiovascular health promotion in the schools. Circulation 2004;110:2266-275.</p>
    <p>24. Giuliano BI. Projeto "Floripa Saud&#225;vel 2040". Comunica&#231;&#227;o Pessoal.</p>
    <p>
      <fn id="back10" fn-type="corresp">
        <label>
          <bold>Endere&#231;o para correspond&#234;ncia</bold>
        </label>
        <p> Ayrton P. Brand&#227;o </p>
        <p> Rua Abade Ramos 107/101 </p>
        <p> 22461-090 - Rio de Janeiro </p>
        <p> E-mail: </p>
        <p>
          <email xlink:href="brandao.trp@terra.com.br">brandao.trp@terra.com.br</email>
        </p>
      </fn>
    </p>
  </body>
  <sub-article article-type="translation" id="TRen" xml:lang="en">
    <front-stub>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Editorial</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title xml:lang="en">Metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents</article-title>
      </title-group>
    </front-stub>
    <body>
      <p>
        <bold>EDITORIAL</bold>
      </p>
      <p>Metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents</p>
      <p>
        <bold>Ayrton Pires Brand&#227;o<sup>I</sup>, Andr&#233;a Ara&#250;jo Brand&#227;o<sup>I</sup>, Gerald S. Berenson<sup>II</sup>, Valentin Fuster<sup>III</sup></bold>
      </p>
      <p>Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro &#150; RJ, Brazil, Tulane Center for Cardiovascular Health - New Orleans, LA, USA and Mount Sinai School of Medicine &#150; New York, NY, USA</p>
      <p><sup>I</sup>State University of Rio de Janeiro</p>
      <p><sup>II</sup>The Bogalusa Heart Study, Tulane Center for Cardiovascular Health, New Orleans, LA, USA</p>
      <p><sup>III</sup>President, World Heart Federation, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA</p>
      <p>
        <xref ref-type="corresp" rid="back10-body2">Correspondence</xref>
      </p>
      <p>
        <bold>Cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome in underdeveloped countries</bold>
      </p>
      <p>Cardiovascular diseases represent the first cause of death in developed countries, but their importance in underdeveloped ones and in those with a transitional economy has increased<sup>1</sup>. As responsible, a set of risk factors, identified as metabolic syndrome, represented by arterial hypertension, overweight/obesity, elevated levels of triglycerides, reduced levels of HDL-cholesterol, and intolerance to glucose/type 2 diabetes are rapidly evolving<sup>2-4</sup>. The way such association leads to coronary arteriosclerosis, which accounts for the great majority of the deaths in affected individuals, has not yet been clearly understood. However, one of the important factors is the presence of insulin resistance/hiperinsulinemia, is frequently identified in a cluster in affected individuals. The latter seems to play an important role in the pathophysiology through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and sodium retention, in addition to stimulation of cell growth. Obesity/hiperinsulinemia seem to be the driving forces related to multiple risk factors and the development of cardiovascular diseases <sup>3,4.</sup>.</p>
      <p>
        <bold>The root of the problem is a high risk factor profile and metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents</bold>
      </p>
      <p>The presence of cardiovascular risk factors in the adult population is a common fact in clinical practice. However, over the last 20 years, this same association has been demonstrated in the young population and is also related to a parental history of the syndrome<sup>5-8</sup>. In children and adolescents, the initial alterations in each of such factors may occur in varied associations, which, even being small, ultimately determine an unfavorable cardiovascular profile for those young individuals. Bogalusa carried out a study with 4,522 individuals, whose ages ranged from 5 to 38 years, selected between 1988 and 1996, to assess the components of the metabolic syndrome (fat index; serum insulin, glucose, triglyceride and HDL-C levels; and BP). The author suggested two independent models to explain the cause of the syndrome. One of the models included fat index and insulin, lipid, and glucose levels, and the other included only insulin levels and blood pressure. The two models explained 54.6% of the total variance in the sample, suggesting a link between the metabolic alteration and the hemodynamic factor, whose common substrate was hyperinsulinemia/insulin resistance<sup>8</sup>. Those same clinical alterations could cause the early atherosclerotic lesions at autopsia observed in those populations<sup>9-11</sup>.</p>
      <p>In Brazil, the Study of Rio de Janeiro, initiated in 1983, was designed to determine the blood pressure curve in 7,015 young individuals aged from 6 to 15 years, stratified by sex and socioeconomic level, and evolved to the search of the aggregation of other cardiovascular risk factors, not only in that population, but also in their relatives. The major results of that study showed a very direct relation between blood pressure and body weight<sup>12</sup>, aggregation of blood pressure and body mass between the members of a same family<sup>13</sup>, anthropometrics indices, blood pressure and left ventricular mass in adolescents<sup>14</sup>, aggregation of blood pressure and metabolic risk factors in adolescents and their relatives<sup>15</sup> and hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, overweight, and elevated blood pressure in young adults<sup>16</sup>.</p>
      <p>However, of all risk factors of the metabolic syndrome, the presence of overweight/obesity emerges as the most important, especially in the United States, where its prevalence increased 2 to 4 times, particularly among the African Americans and Latin Americans<sup>17</sup>. But this same phenomenon has also been observed in countries with a transitional economy, such as Brazil, as shown in the research carried out by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics<sup>18</sup>, which has confirmed an effective evolution in the anthropometrics-nutritional profile of the entire Brazilian population, including children and adolescents, in the time period between 1974-1975 and 2002-2003 (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1-body2">Figures 1</xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2-body2">2</xref>). In such period, a significant decrease was observed in the prevalence of under nutrition, more marked in the male sex, while a continuous and intense increase was observed in overweight and obesity in both sexes, although greater among women. The findings in children and adolescents should be emphasized: in the same regions and in the same period, the prevalence of undernourished children and adolescents decreased by approximately 50%, while that of overweight/obesity doubled <sup>19,20</sup>.</p>
      <fig id="fig1-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0079-00001-gf01-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <fig id="fig2-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-85-02-0079-00001-gf02-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <p>The dietary pattern has also been assessed in that same study, showing that, regardless of their socioeconomic level, Brazilians have a wrong dietary pattern as follows: an excessive amount of sugar, an insufficient amount of fruits and vegetables, and an excessive amount of fat in general, and specially of saturated fat, particularly among the higher-income families living in the most developed regions of the country (South, Southeast, and West Central) <sup>18</sup>.</p>
      <p>In addition, there is a great tendency towards a sedentary lifestyle, observed in all studies assessing metabolic syndrome, which propitiates the appearance of alterations related to the glucose and lipid metabolism and an increase in blood pressure, which are well-known important risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Such findings point to a real probability of an increase in the future cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rates, which have a great socioeconomic impact not only for Brazil, but also for all countries with a transitional economy.</p>
      <p>Nonmedicamentous measures aiming at a change in lifestyle, focusing on regular physical activity and a balanced diet, are the first action to be taken<sup>21</sup>. The medicamentous treatment may be necessary and, although not desirable, it has been increasingly used in patients with elevated blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and diabetes<sup>21</sup>. The use of medication to treat obesity may also be considered, although the experience is still small and lacks a long-term assessment<sup>21</sup>.</p>
      <p>
        <bold>The importance of primary prevention in children and adolescents</bold>
      </p>
      <p>The adoption of primary preventive measures in young individuals has been recognized as of great importance in approaching cardiovascular diseases. The demonstration of the presence of arteriosclerosis in children, adolescents, and young adults, in addition to a greater knowledge about the risk factors in those age groups, points to proposals of rational and effective programs aiming at interfering with those factors as early as possible<sup>21</sup>.</p>
      <p>The measures recommended for that age group focus on the adoption of healthy habits, such as avoiding the excessive ingestion of calories, salt, saturated fat, and cholesterol, and engaging in regular physical activity without smoking. Health education focusing on improving nutrition, physical activity and healthy lifestyles for school children and their parents should become a leading role for physicians<sup>22,23</sup>.</p>
      <p>The specific prevention of obesity through diet and physical activity should be the number one priority, because its success will have a positive direct repercussion on dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, and the alterations in the metabolism of carbohydrates <sup>21-23</sup>.</p>
      <p>The benefits associated with physical activity in young individuals include weight loss, improvement in metabolic parameters, a reduction in blood pressure and insulin resistance, psychic well-being, predisposition to maintain physical activity in adulthood, and, consequently, a decrease in the risk of cardiovascular disease and an increase in life expectancy <sup>21-23</sup>.</p>
      <p>In general, youngsters have been exercising less. Television, videogames, and computers tend to keep them indoors. The lack of safety in big cities inhibits walking and bike riding. At school, the new curricular requirements have reduced the time spent for physical activity. And, finally, the families have become increasingly sedentary.</p>
      <p>These observations point towards the need for actions directed to changes in the family as a whole. To counteract poor lifestyles programs for children through health education have just begun in Brazil<sup>24</sup>.</p>
      <p>Governmental programs providing specific areas for practicing physical exercise, a greater supply of physical education teachers, and improved public safety are absolutely necessary. It is also a consensus that such measures will only succeed within a context encompassing joint family, school, community, and government efforts.</p>
      <p>In accordance with that vision, the World Heart Federation has elected the slogan "Healthy Weight, Healthy Shape", an alert against obesity, as the theme for the day of the heart to be celebrated on September, 26th, an initiative in which everybody should get involved.</p>
      <p>Only interference at young age will be able to effectively guarantee a healthy adult lifestyle, as far as the cardiovascular system is concerned, thereby favorably influencing the elevated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rates.</p>
      <p>
        <bold>References</bold>
      </p>
      <p>1. Lakka HM, Laaksonen DE, Lakka TA, Niskanem LK, Kumpusalo E, Tuomilehto J et al. The metabolic syndrome and total cardiovascular disease mortality in middle-aged men. JAMA 2002;288:2709-716.</p>
      <p>2. Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Final Report. Circulation 2002;106:3143-421.</p>
      <p>3. Grundy SM, Brewer B, Cleeman JI, Smith Jr SC, Lenfant C. Definition of the metabolic syndrome. Report of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute/American Heart Association Conference on Scientific Issues Related to Definition. Circulation 2004;109:433-38.</p>
      <p>4. Brand&#227;o AP, Nogueira AR, Oliveira JE, Guimar&#227;es JI, Suplicy H, Brand&#227;o AA. (Coord). I Diretriz Brasileira de Diagn&#243;stico e Tratamento da S&#237;ndrome Metab&#243;lica. Arq Bras Cardiol 2005;84(Supl I):1-28.</p>
      <p>5. Berenson GS, Srinivasan SR, Bao W, Newman III WP, Tracy RE, Wattigney WA: Association between multiple cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis in children and young adults. N Eng J Med 1998;338:23:1650-56.</p>
      <p>6. Srinivasan SR, Myers L, Berenson GS. Predictability of childhood adiposity and insulin for developing insulin resistance syndrome (Syndrome X) in young adulthood: The Bogalusa Heart Study. Diabetes 2002;51:204-209.</p>
      <p>7. Steinberger J, Daniels SR. Obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes and cardiovascular risk in children. Circulation 2003;107:1448-453.</p>
      <p>8. Chen W, Srinivasan SR, Elkasabany A, Berenson GS. The association of cardiovascular risk factor clustering related to insulin resistance syndrome (Syndrome X) between young parents and their offspring: The Bogalusa Heart Study. Atherosclerosis 1999;145:197-205.</p>
      <p>9. Berenson GS, Wattigney W, Tracy R, Bao W, Srinivisan SR, Newman III WP. Atherosclerosis of the aorta and coronary arteries and cardiovascular risk factors in persons aged 6 to 30 years and studied at necropsy (the Bogalusa Heart Study). Am J Cardiol 1992;70:851-58.</p>
      <p>10. Xiangrong L, Shengxu L, Ulosoy E, Chen W, Srinivasan SR, Berenson GS. Childhood adiposity as a predictor of cardiac mass in adulthood. The Bogalusa Heart Study. Circulation 2004;110:3488-492.</p>
      <p>11. MacMahan CA, Gilding SS, Fayad ZA, Zieske AW, Malcon GT, Tracy RE et al. Risk score predict atherosclerotic lesions in young people. The Pathological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth Research Group. Arch Intern Med 2005;165:883-90.</p>
      <p>12. Brand&#227;o AP, Brand&#227;o AA, Araujo EMM. The significance of physical development on blood pressure curve of children between 6 and 9 years of age and its relationship with familial aggregation. J Hypertens 1989;7(Suppl 1): S37-S39.</p>
      <p>13. Brand&#227;o AP, Brand&#227;o AA, Araujo EMM, Oliveira RC. Familial aggregation of arterial blood pressure and possible genetic influence. Hypertension 1992;9(Suppl II):II-214-17.</p>
      <p>14. Brand&#227;o AA, Pozzan R, Albanesi F&#186; FM, Brand&#227;o AP. Role of anthropometric indexes and blood pressure as determinants of left ventricular mass and geometry in adolescents: The Rio de Janeiro Study. Hypertension 1995;26:1190-194.</p>
      <p>15. Magalh&#227;es MEC, Pozzan R, Brand&#227;o AA, Cerqueira RCO, Roussouli&#232;res ALS, Brand&#227;o AP. Early blood pressure level as a mark of familial aggregation of metabolic cardiovascular risk factors &#150; The Rio de Janeiro Study. J Hypertens 1998;16:1885-889.</p>
      <p>16. Pozzan R, Brand&#227;o AA, Silva SL, Brand&#227;o AP. Hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, overweight, and high blood pressure in young adults: The Rio de Janeiro Study. Hypertension 1997;30 (3pt2):650-53.</p>
      <p>17. Weiss R, Dziura J, Burgert TS, Tamborlane WV, Taksali SE, Yeckel CW et al. Obesity and the metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents. N Engl J Med 2004; 350:2362:374.</p>
      <p>18. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estat&#237;stica &#150; An&#225;lise da disponibilidade domiciliar de alimentos e do estado nutricional no Brasil. [acesso em mar&#231;o de 2005]. Dispon&#237;vel em &lt;<ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://www.ibge.gov.br">http://www.ibge.gov.br</ext-link>&gt;</p>
      <p>19. Monteiro CA, Mondini L, Souza ALM, Popkin BM. The nutrition transition in Brazil. Eur J Clin Nutr 1995;49:105-13.</p>
      <p>20. Caballero B. Global health: A nutrition paradox &#150; underweight and obesity in developing countries. N Engl J M&#233;d 2005;352:1514-516.</p>
      <p>21. Kavey RW, Daniels SR, Lauer RM, Atkins DL, Hayman LL, Taubert K. American Heart Association. Guidelines for Primary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Beginning Childhood. Circulation 2003;107:1562-566.</p>
      <p>22. Downey AM, Frank GC, Webber LS, Harsha DW, Virgilio SJ, Berenson GS et al. Implementation of "Heart Smart:" A cardiovascular school health promotion program. J Sch Health 1987;57:98-104.</p>
      <p>23. Hayman LL, Wiliams CL, Daniels SR, Steinberg J, Paridon S, Dennison BA. Cardiovascular health promotion in the schools. Circulation 2004;110:2266-275.</p>
      <p>24. Giuliano BI. Projeto "Floripa Saud&#225;vel 2040". Comunica&#231;&#227;o Pessoal.</p>
      <p>
        <fn id="back10-body2" fn-type="corresp">
          <label>
            <bold>Correspondence to</bold>
          </label>
          <p> Ayrton P. Brand&#227;o</p>
          <p> Rua Abade Ramos 107/101</p>
          <p> 22461-090 - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil</p>
          <p> E-mail: </p>
          <p>
            <email xlink:href="brandao.trp@terra.com.br">brandao.trp@terra.com.br</email>
          </p>
        </fn>
      </p>
      <p>22. Downey AM, Frank GC, Webber LS, Harsha DW, Virgilio SJ, Berenson GS et al. Implementation of "Heart Smart:" A cardiovascular school health promotion program. J Sch Health 1987;57:98-104.</p>
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