| title: | Development of risk factors for chronic diseases: III phase of the European Youth Heart Study |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF6788 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
3.4. Health Sciences |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | National Institute for Health Development |
| head of project: | Maarike Harro |
| duration: | 01.01.2006 - 31.12.2009 |
| description: | The general objective of the study is to find out causality associations between the prevalence of risk factors for chronic diseases (RFCD) from one side and genetic, psychological, life-style, family-related and socio-economical factors from the other side in children, adolescents and adults; to assess the relationship of the factors and change in dynamics. Within the framework of this research project grant we have set concrete sub-goals, which are derived from cross-sectional associations according to the analysis of earlier results. 1. To compare the prevalence of RFCD and their determinants in different European countries. 2. To assess the determinants of metabolic syndrome and insulin-resistance in dynamics from childhood to adult. 3. To assess the stability of association between personality traits and health-related behaviour and the connection with other risk factors of chronic diseases (blood lipids, overweight). 4. To find out the role of physical activity, fitness and nutrition in the development of overweight in different age groups. 5. To describe the role of “new” risk factors (high levels of homocystein, leptin and lipoprotein-a) in coronary diseases in children and adolescents. 6. To estimate the causality association between the polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and the fitness in children and adolescents, taking into account the physical activity, dietary intake and body compositon. The planned study is the III stage of the Europena Youth Heart Study (EYHS), which sample was formed in 1998 from the pupils of 3rd and 9th grades of the schools in Tartu and Tartu County according to the criteria set in in EYHS protocol. Totally in the I stage of EYHS 1176 pupils were studied, from them 583 were 3rd grade and 591 were 9th grade pupils; 1850 parents (1024 mothers and 826 fathers). In the II stage of EYHS there were 483 children from younger age group and 417 from older group. The III stage of EYHS will be carried out in the same participants respectively in 2007 and 2008, when they will become 18- and 25- years old. Then it will be possible to assess the effect of the factors of childhood on health in adult. When the second stage of the study added the possibility to assess the causality of the associations, then the third stage would give possibility to check the prognosis from longitudinal aspect and to assess the effect of dynamics between two previous stages on the health indicators of the third stage. In this study children health and its determinants are treated thoroughly: primarily the essence, importance, critical affecting period (age) and the associations of the risk factors of coronary diseases and its determinants such as biological, psychological, life-style, family- and socio-economical related are assessed. The strength of the study is that longitudinal design has been used in assessment of risk factors in the same children and their parents. Although additionally to ordinary questionnaires several thorough biochemical, genetic, physiological and psychological measurements are used. Very important fact is that the study has international design – it is the part of the European Youth Heart Study, that assume to use identical methodology in parallel with the participants of the same age group in different European countries. This kind of approach enables to estimate the importance of national, cultural, climatic and socio-economical factors and their mechanisms in different countries with different prevalence of risk factors and morbidity and mortality due to coronary diseases. The collected data help to achieve better understanding of the development of risk factors in children and adolescents in countries with different socio-economical and cultural background. The expected result of the study is to find out so-called protective factors (that inhibit the development of the risk factors of coronary diseases and strengthen health). Positive experiences of the certain country would be useful in developing intervention programmes. The results of the study also allow giving advices to make health promoting intervention programmes more effective both in Estonia and in other countries. According to the results of this longitudinal study 18 publications have been published in 1001-2005 and 4 manuscripts are submitted, 6 manuscripts are ready. One doctoral and 3 master theses have been defended and 4 doctoral and 3 master theses are drafts. Our plan is to make data available for potential co-work partners in Estonia and to continue international cooperation. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Diva Eensoo | |||
| 2. | Maarike Harro | Tervise Arengu Instituut | ||
| 3. | Liis Merenäkk | |||
| 4. | Inga Villa | |||