Coronary heart disease risk factors in schoolchildren aged 12 to 13 years of differing socio-economic status

From November 2001 through to March 2002, 100 boys and 108 girls, aged 12.0 ± 0.8 years were assessed for coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors. Rural (school 1) and valley (school 2) comprehensive schools (age range 11 to 18 years) were selected to represent differing socio-economic status (SES). Informed written consent was sought from head teachers, parents, and schoolchildren. All measurements were made in the subjects' respective schools, with the author making a total of 60 visits to these schools. Tests were carried out at the same relative time intervals and by an identical team of researchers. Physical and physiological measurements included stature (m), body mass (kg), body mass index (BMI) (kg m'2), skinfold measurements (£ SKF) (mm), waist to hip ratio (WHR), aerobic fitness (20 MST) (shuttles), systolic (SBP) (mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressure (DBF) (mm Hg). Total cholesterol (TC) (mmol-L' 1 ), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (mmol-L" 1 ), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (mmol-L" 1 ), TC: HDL-C, triglyceride (TG) (mmol-L' 1 ), lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) (mg-dL'1), glucose (Glu) (mmol-L' 1), fibrinogen (Fg) (mg-dL" 1), folate (ng-mL"1 ), vitamin Bn (pmol-L' 1), and homocyst(e)ine (Hey) (umol-L" 1 ) were measured for haematological concentrations. Lifestyle assessments included dietary and physical activity analysis. Familial risk of coronary heart disease was also determined. Blood analyses were conducted at the Biochemistry Laboratories of the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llamtisant, and Llandough Hospital, Penarth.