[Epidemiologic and preventive studies of the precursors of atherosclerosis in children and adults].

A total of 1920 schoolchildren of both sexes were examined at 12 to 13 years of age, with a follow-up of 242 children showing elevated BP and a random normotensive sample of 230. A set of features was identified that showed the greatest predictive value with respect to mean BP at five years' follow-up: baseline BP, the Katle index, the magnitude of the S wave and heart rate. A study of possible approaches to the prevention of atherosclerotic precursors in eleven-year-olds has been launched, with the action on certain risk factors, such as limited physical activity, elevated BP, smoking, excessive body weight lipid disorders (in boys only).