Health behaviour of women with Turner Syndrome

Abstract

Girls and women with Turner syndrome (TS) normally experience a healthy life, but the condition is associated with important health challenges, including obesity, dyslipidaemia, oestrogen deficiency and arterial hypertension, putting them at increased risk of cardiovascular problems. 1 These challenges can have an impact on their health-related behaviour and physical activity. 2,3 Cardiovascular disease accounted for 41% of the increased mortality in British women with TS compared with the general population, with a standardised mortality ratio of 3.0 (95% CI, 2.7-3.4). 4 Cardiovascular diseases do not usually present clinically until adulthood, but the development of atherosclerosis actually starts in childhood and adolescence. Positive health-related behaviours, such as avoiding smoking, consuming no or only small amounts of alcohol, maintaining normal body weight and engaging in regular physical activities, are therefore important for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in women with TS.Only few studies on health behaviours of girls and women with TS exist. In questionnaire studies from Norway, women with TS were reported to smoke and binge drink less than the general

Promoting healthy behaviour in Turner syndrome—the challenge begins in childhood

“…Scanning the list of contents for this month's edition of Acta, one might be forgiven for asking what a paper entitled ‘Health Behaviour of women with Turner Syndrome’ is doing in a paediatric journal 1 . But a reading of the abstract of this paper should dismiss any doubts.…”

“…That is why a healthy lifestyle is important. Santi et al report that Swiss women with Turner syndrome had a healthier lifestyle than the general population, but only a minority met national recommendations for physical activity 6 . In the accompanying editorial, Donaldson and Gault explain that the challenge of promoting healthy behaviour in patients with Turner syndrome begins in childhood 7 .…”

“…That is why a healthy lifestyle is important. Santi et al report that Swiss women with Turner syndrome had a healthier lifestyle than the general population, butonly a minority met national recommendations for physical activity 6.…”