Cardiovascular Disease Risk Profile in Children with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle. These children may suffer from dreadful arrhythmia and sudden death. For this reason, they are sometimes told to avoid strenuous physical activities. This study assesses if this puts them at risk and examine the barriers to a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Little is known about the cardiovascular (CV) disease risk profile and healthy lifestyle behaviours of pediatric patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Given the significant emphasis placed on what physical activities patients with HCM should avoid, physicians may not be effectively communicating the importance of maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle, which may explain the high levels of inactivity and obesity seen among adult patients with HCM.

This prospective multicenter study will assess the CV disease risk profile in adolescents with HCM, and examine the barriers to a heart-healthy lifestyle. The main aims are (1) to assess the CV disease risk behaviours and CV disease risk profile of children with HCM, and (2) to determine if children with HCM are at greater risk for acquired CV disease compared to the general population.

The targeted population is comprised of patients between 10 and 19 years of age meeting the diagnostic criteria for primary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy set in the American Heart Association guideline. Information collected includes demographics, clinical and diagnostic information. Participants will complete four questionnaires including: Healthy Hearts School Program Questionnaire, Habitual Activity Estimation Scale (HAES), Self-Efficacy for Exercise Scale, and the PedsQL. Clinical data collection includes measures of adiposity, manual blood pressure, non-fasting lipid panel, and measures of physical activity (Fitbit Charge 2 Activity Tracker).

This information will be used as a foundation for the development of a targeted comprehensive intervention to promote a heart-healthy lifestyle in this pediatric population.

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