N. Marčun Varda
Klinika za pediatrijo, Univerzitetni klinični center Maribor, Maribor, Slovenija

Abstract

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases are among the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in adults but their manifestation in childhood is rare. This is not the case for cardiovascular risk factors that do appear already in childhood and accelerate the development of atherosclerosis. Among the latter there is also hypertension.There is growing evidence that cardiovascular disease prevention has to begin in early childhood with the long-term goal of lifelong cardiovascular health. Two different basic goals are of utmost importance, the prevention of risk factor development (primordial prevention) and the prevention of future cardiovascular events by effective management of identified cardiovascular risk factors (primary prevention).In the article integral model of cardiovascular health preservation and cardiovascular risk reduction in childhood is shortly presented. In addition, approach to children with some chronic diseases representing additional cardiovascular risk as well as to children and adolescents with hypertension as cardiovascular risk representative are briefly reviewed.

Key words: cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, prevention, cardiovascular risk, cardiovascular health, child.