Abstract: FR-PO434
Schoolchildren From Disadvantaged Backgrounds Present a Significant Increase of Body Fat Mass and Blood Pressure During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Germany: Results From the MEDdirect Study
Session Information
- Pediatric Nephrology - I
November 04, 2022 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Orange County Convention Center‚ West Building
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Pediatric Nephrology
- 1800 Pediatric Nephrology
Author
- Büscher, Rainer, Universitatsmedizin Essen, Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Background
The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has become an unprecedented threat to global health which aggravated already existing health and emotional problems for children from underprivileged areas. MEDdirect is a medical students’-based project which encourages young medical students to teach schoolchildren in health care, sanitation, nutrition and physical activity. The study was designed to evaluate the regular commitment of first-year medical students as health advocates for underprivileged pupils and monitor changes in health, blood pressure and body composition during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Methods
Twenty-five healthy schoolchildren from disadvantaged neighborhoods participated in this prospective prevention study and received regular courses about health care, sanitation, nutrition and exercise carried out by the medical students. Anthropometric and body composition monitoring (BCM) data were collected in parallel.
Results
Trainers and scholars finished four complete school days in 3-4-month intervals over a period of two years with different training courses. All participants gave an overwhelming positive response to the project. During the COVID-19 month-long school lockdown, body composition monitoring revealed a significant increase of body weight (28.7±9.2 kg vs. 38.0±11.8 kg, p=0.023) and BMI (18.8±2.0 vs. 23.3±0.4). Particularly, body fat mass was increased (6.6±4.8 vs. 11.9±7.5, p=0.031) and muscle mass decreased. In addition, we observed a significant increase of the diastolic blood pressure (Figure 1).
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic-related school lockdown lead to a significant weight gain and increase of body fat mass and blood pressure with unpredictable health consequences in the youngest. Therefore, stronger efforts to support this high-risk group are urgently needed and MEDdirect might be a feasible micro-intervention.
Funding
- Private Foundation Support