Development of main risk factors of ischaemic heart disease in children and adolescents (eight-year prospective study).

Pupils of Moscow schools with normal and elevated arterial pressure were followed up over a period of 8 years. The study confirmed the existence of the "tracking" phenomenon in blood pressure. When identifying groups of children requiring constant medical control, it is necessary to take into account both the initial level of arterial pressure and the body mass, arterial pressure values at repeated measurement, and the family history. Elevated arterial pressure (greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg) was present among boys more frequently than among girls (in twenty-years olds the respective proportions were 16.7 vs. 0.8%). Furthermore, a considerable stability of overweight (40-70%), frequent smoking (among twenty-years olds, nearly 60% of boys and 30% of girls are smokers), and low physical activity in nearly half of the investigated children were found. These results confirm the need for early prevention of the development and for control of risk factors of ischaemic heart disease.