January 1999, Volume 113, Issue 1, Pages 7 - 12

Article

Relationships between the development of biological risk factors for coronary heart disease and lifestyle parameters during adolescence: The Northern Ireland Young Hearts Project C Boreham1, J Twisk2, W van Mechelen2,3, M Savage4, J Strain5 & G Cran6 1Sports Studies, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Northern Ireland     2Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine,Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam     3Department of Social Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands     4Child Health, The Queen’s University of Belfast     5Human Nutrition Research Group, University of Ulster, Coleraine     6Statistics and Operational Research The Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland     Correspondence to: Prof C Boreham , Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, N Ireland, BT37 0QB

Keywords

lifestyle;   coronary heart disease risk factors;   adolescence;   Northern Ireland

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between the longitudinal development of biological risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) (namely, serum lipids, body fatness, blood pressure and cardiorespiratory fitness) and the development of lifestyles considered to be atherogenic. The study was conducted in a representative sample of adolescents from Northern Ireland, a region of high coronary mortality, and atherogenic aspects of lifestyle such as cigarette smoking, physical inactivity and selected aspects of diet were examined. Repeated measurements were made at 12 and 15 y of age on 229 boys and 230 girls. Longitudinal relations were analysed with generalised estimating equations, and the following longitudinal relations were found: for boys diastolic blood pressure was positively associated with vitamin C intake (P=0.014), and inversely with energy intake (P=0.006), and smoking (P=0.048). Systolic blood pressure was inversely related to physical activity (P=0.012), and smoking (P=0.000). Body fatness was also inversely related to smoking (P=0.006). Total cholesterol (TC) was positively related to physical activity (P=0.044) and the TC:HDL cholesterol ratio positively to vitamin C intake (P=0.008). Cardiorespiratory fitness was positively related to physical activity (P=0.000) and inversely to smoking (P=0.031). For girls, systolic blood pressure was positively related to vitamin C intake (P=0.042); HDL cholesterol inversely to carbohydrate intake (P=0.014), fat intake (P=0.031), cholesterol intake (P=0.042) and smoking (P=0.035) and positively to energy intake (P=0.035). The TC:HDL cholesterol ratio was inversely related to energy intake (P=0.038) and finally, cardiorespiratory fitness positively to physical activity (P=0.001). These results offer additional evidence that changes in lifestyle are associated with changes in biological risk factors in adolescents. Education and intervention at this stage, particularly in relation to cigarette smoking, physical activity and certain aspects of diet appear justified as part of a preventative strategy for CHD.

Accepted 8 October 1998

^© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 1999