Cardiovascular risk factors and their modification in children

Current concepts and recommendations concerning the natural history of arteriosclerosis in childhood are presented. Concepts discussed include target organ changes in early life that are associated with traditional risk factors, levels of risk factors, and their tracking, or persistence, throughout childhood. The majority of the data presented are from the Bogalusa Heart Study, a long-term epidemiologic study of cardiovascular disease risk factors in childhood. Currently accepted recommendations concerning the measurement of and intervention on blood pressure, lipids and lipoproteins, and obesity in childhood are also presented.