Vascular dysfunction is known to be an initiator of the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, there is paucity of information on the relationship of vascular dysfunction with cardiovascular risk factors in children of African ancestry. This study investigated the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and vascular function in South African children of African ancestry. A cross-sectional study on 6–9-year-old children in randomly selected rural and urban schools of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa was conducted. General anthropometric indices were measured, followed by blood pressure (BP) measurements. The pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured using a Vicorder. Albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), 8-hydroxy-2deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) were assayed in urine. Children from urban settings (10.8%) had a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity than their rural counterparts (8.5%) while the prevalence of elevated/high blood pressure was higher in rural (23.2%) than urban children (19.0%). Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) increased with increasing PWV (p < 0.05). Body mass index (BMI), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) positively associated (p < 0.05) with PWV. Creatinine, albumin and ACR significantly (p < 0.005) increased with increasing ADMA. ADMA associated positively (p < 0.05) with creatinine and 8-OHdG. In conclusion, vascular dysfunction was associated with obesity, high blood pressure, oxidative stress and microalbuminuria in South African children of African ancestry.

Though the association between high blood pressure and microalbuminuria is well established in adults, there is a paucity of information on microalbuminuria in children. This study investigated the relationship between high blood pressure and microalbuminuria in 6–9-year-old children. A cross-sectional study, which included 306 primary school children of age 6–9 years old from urban areas (n = 154) and rural areas (n = 152) of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, was conducted. Participants’ anthropometric data were determined and systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured and converted to BP percentiles for age, sex and height. Creatinine and albumin concentrations were assayed in early morning midstream urine and the albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) was calculated. There was a 42.8% prevalence of elevated blood pressure/high blood pressure (E-BP/H-BP) and a 10.1% prevalence of microalbuminuria. Among the 131 children with E-BP/H-BP, 17 had elevated ACR with a prevalence of 13.95%. SBP and HR increased with increasing range of ACR and, furthermore, SBP was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in children with moderately and severely increased ACR. SBP was associated with ACR and increased SBP predicted microalbuminuria (R2 = 0.42, adj R2 = 0.039, B: 0.120, p = < 0.05). In conclusion, microalbuminuria was present in 6–9-year-old South African children of African Ancestry and a weak association was observed with SBP in children.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is known to be an initiator to the development and progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, there is paucity o knowledge on its relationship with cardiovascular risk factors in children. More so, some of these cardiovascular risk factors are known to be influenced by feeding habits and life style changes which often vary between rural and urban settings. This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and endothelial function in rural and urban children. Methods: A cross-sectional study on 6-9 years old children in randomly selected rural and urban schools of the Eastern Cape Province of South Arica was conducted. General anthropometric indices were measured followed by blood pressure (BP) measurements. The pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured using a Vicorder. Urine sample was collected for the determination of albumin, creatinine, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), 8-hydroxy-2deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS). Albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) was calculated.Results: Children from urban settings (10.8%) had a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity than their rural counterparts (8.5%) while the prevalence of elevated/high blood pressure was higher in rural children (23.2%) than in urban children (19.0%). Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) significantly (p<0.005) increased with increasing quartiles of PWV. ADMA positively associated with HR in rural girls and showed a weak risk for elevated SBP and MAP. Body mass index (BMI) increased with increasing PWV and predicted endothelial dysfunction. 8-OHdG significantly (p<0.005) increased with increasing quartiles of ADMA and positively correlated with ADMA. Creatinine, albumin and ACR significantly (p<0.005) increased with increasing ADMA and ADMA associated positively with creatinine. Conclusion: Endothelial dysfunction was associated with obesity, high blood pressure, oxidative stress and microalbuminuria in children, and this relationship varied between rural and urban children.