Identification of cardiovascular risk factors in parents/caregivers of children with heart diseases

• Published in: Arquivos brasileiros de cardiologia 2012-10, Vol.99 (4), p.936-943
• Main Authors: Borges, Camila Feijó, Busnello, Fernanda Michielin, Pellanda, Lucia Campos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Caregivers; Cross-Sectional Studies; Feeding Behavior - physiology; Female; Heart Diseases - nursing; Humans; Male; Nutritional Status; Obesity - complications; Parents; Risk Factors; Sedentary Behavior; Sex Distribution; Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Waist Circumference - physiology
• ISSN: 1678-4170
• DOI: 10.1590/S0066-782X2012005000085

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Brazil, they are the major cause of death. To identify cardiovascular risk factors in parents/caregivers of children with heart diseases by assessing their nutritional status, health conditions, and life style. Cross-sectional study of 150 parents or caregivers of children with heart diseases who attended a cardiology outpatient clinic. Data on identification, lifestyle and health conditions were collected by means of a structured questionnaire. For the assessment of the eating habits, a questionnaire on eating frequency was used; for the assessment of the nutritional status, weight, height, and waist circumference were measured, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated and classified. A total of 155 parents of children with heart diseases, predominantly of the female gender (91.6%), were evaluated; their mean age was 35.0 ± 10.6 years. The most prevalent risk factors were sedentary lifestyle (85.2%), obesity (28%) and hypertension (22.6%). As regards the eating habits, a high frequency of intake of red meat, margarine, vegetable oil, and sugar and low intake of fish were observed. Comparison between genders showed a significant difference in relation to obesity, as detected by BMI, and hypertension, both more frequent among women. Waist circumference measurement also showed a higher cardiovascular risk in women. Cardiovascular risk factors such as excess weight, sedentary lifestyle, and hypertension as well as inadequate eating habits such as a high frequency of intake of saturated fat and cholesterol and low intake of unsaturated fat were identified in the parents/caregivers assessed.