World journal of clinical pediatrics最新文献

{"title":"Role of TRPM4 ion channel in pediatric arrhythmic syndromes.","authors":"Olesya V Melnik, Olga E Kulichik, Anastasiya K Zaytseva, Olga A Kofeynikova, Svetlana G Fetisova, Svetlana I Tarnovskaya, Yuliya V Fomicheva, Elena S Vasichkina, Boris S Zhorov, Olga V Kalinina, Anna A Kostareva","doi":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.114189","DOIUrl":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.114189","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>TRPM4</i> is a member of transient receptor potential (<i>TRP</i>) ion channel group which greatly contributes to cardiomyocyte function and physiology. It controls the dynamic stabilization of calcium level and is involved in sinus node regulation and cardiac conduction. Most of pathogenic variants in <i>TRPM4</i> gene are associated with conduction disorders and various types of arrhythmic syndromes presenting in children and early adolescents. In addition, TRPM4 gain- and loss-of-function variants are discussed in connection to Brugada syndrome and long QT-syndrome. In this review we summarize current knowledge on the role of <i>TRPM4</i> variants in pediatric arrhythmic syndromes, discuss molecular mechanisms of TRPM4 dysfunction, provide clinical illustrations and case presentations underlining the role of TRPM4 in molecular pathogenesis of arrhythmic syndromes presented in young age.</p>","PeriodicalId":75338,"journal":{"name":"World journal of clinical pediatrics","volume":"15 2","pages":"114189"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217190/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148140263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early-life gastrointestinal inflammation and the developing brain: Unravelling the pathways to long-term cognitive dysfunction.","authors":"Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Nermin Kamal Saeed, Yasser El-Sawaf, Adel Salah Bediwy, Reem Elbeltagi","doi":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.117843","DOIUrl":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.117843","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The gut-brain axis (GBA) is a complex, bidirectional communication network critical to integrating central nervous system functions with gastrointestinal (GI) health. This review examines how disruptions to the GBA during the critical early-life developmental window - a period of rapid neurogenesis and microbial colonization - contribute to long-term neurocognitive and psychiatric vulnerabilities. Evidence from animal models demonstrates that early-life stress, antibiotics, and infection induce sustained neuro-inflammation and alter microglial function, leading to long-term behavioral and cognitive impairments in adulthood. Human studies corroborate these findings, revealing that severe early GI insults, such as necrotizing enterocolitis, confer a high risk (40%) of global neurodevelopmental impairment and specific attention deficits. Chronic inflammatory conditions similarly impact the central nervous system: A high burden of early severe enteric infection is an independent risk factor for diminished intelligence quotient (IQ) and executive function, while conditions like celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease are associated with persistent deficits in attention, processing speed, memory, and executive function. These clinical outcomes are strongly linked to systemic inflammation [elevated interleukin-6, kynurenine-to-tryptophan (Kyn:Trp) ratio], micronutrient deficiencies (iron, vitamin B12, folate), and structural white matter changes in the brain. Furthermore, chronic GI disease imposes a significant psychiatric burden, with high comorbidity of anxiety and depression often mediating poor health-related quality of life, particularly in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. The findings underscore the necessity for a shift in clinical practice: Chronic GI disease in early life must be recognized as a red flag for neurocognitive risk. We advocate for a multidisciplinary approach encompassing early neurodevelopmental follow-up for high-risk groups and routine screening for cognitive and emotional comorbidities. Future research must focus on long-term prospective cohorts, identifying precise mechanistic biomarkers (metabolomics, microbiome signatures), and conducting interventional trials targeting the GBA to mitigate these long-term functional consequences.</p>","PeriodicalId":75338,"journal":{"name":"World journal of clinical pediatrics","volume":"15 2","pages":"117843"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217068/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148140154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Letter to the Editor: Bridging the immunization gap in pediatric autoimmune disorders - insights from inflammatory bowel disease and vaccine response patterns.","authors":"Hany Akeel Al-Hussaniy","doi":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.115247","DOIUrl":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.115247","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autoimmune diseases represent serious conditions characterized by immune dysregulation, which compromises the body's defense mechanisms and affects responses to infections and Vaccines. In addition to this, the treatment of these diseases involves mostly immunosuppressant's. I read with great interest the study published in the <i>World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics</i> by Makarova <i>et al</i>, examining vaccines and antibody levels in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with a focus on enhancing children's immune responses. Children with autoimmune diseases often show poor response to vaccines, which is attributed to their health condition and the immunosuppressive drugs used in treatment. One of the effective ways to protect these people in general and the children in specific is to follow personalized vaccination plans, or as mentioned in the research being discussed, to carry out revaccination and conduct serology tests and immunoglobulin G to ensure the effectiveness of vaccination plans. Those with diseases similar to IBD, and related diseases should conduct periodic checks after vaccination.</p>","PeriodicalId":75338,"journal":{"name":"World journal of clinical pediatrics","volume":"15 2","pages":"115247"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217215/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148140160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Medical treatment of autism spectrum disorder in children: Current evidence, controversies, and clinical challenges.","authors":"Yousif M Elbeltagi, Ahmed Osama Abd Rab El Rasool, Ahmed Mohammed Elkashlan, Mohammed Al-Beltagi","doi":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.117274","DOIUrl":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.117274","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition associated with debilitating comorbidities [<i>e.g.</i>, aggression, irritability, gastrointestinal (GI) issues]. Medical management primarily targets these symptoms, as no drug is Food and Drug Administration-approved for core social-communication deficits.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To synthesize the efficacy and safety of five major pharmacological classes and evaluate the emerging evidence for biomarker-driven (precision medicine) interventions in pediatric ASD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for five classes: Atypical antipsychotics, stimulants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, metabolic/nutritional, and microbiota-gut-brain axis agents. Quantitative meta-analysis for antipsychotics (<i>n</i> = 5 RCTs pooled) used the random-effects model, reporting <i>I</i> ² to quantify heterogeneity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Atypical antipsychotics are the only drugs with robust, established efficacy for severe irritability: Pooled analysis for risperidone (<i>n</i> = 3 RCTs) showed a significant mean difference of approximately -11.0 on Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Irritability subscale (<i>I</i> ² approximately 72%). Risperidone carries a greater metabolic burden (<i>e.g.</i>, weight gain) than aripiprazole. Stimulants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, respectively. Emerging therapies demonstrate targeted potential: Microbiota transfer therapy significantly improved GI and behavioral symptoms in cohorts with GI disease. Similarly, the efficacy of High-dose folinic acid was concentrated in the subgroup with folate receptor-α autoantibodies.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The management of ASD demands a shift to a precision medicine model, as the efficacy of interventions is highly variable and concentrated in specific patient subgroups. Future research must prioritize the validation of biological biomarkers (metabolic, genetic, neurophysiological) to reliably predict treatment response, guiding the selection of targeted therapies, and addressing current evidence gaps.</p>","PeriodicalId":75338,"journal":{"name":"World journal of clinical pediatrics","volume":"15 2","pages":"117274"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217184/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148140198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Circulating levels of growth differentiation factor-15 and its genetic variants -3148C>G (rs4808793) in pediatric cardiac patients.","authors":"Eman Ahmed Abd-Elmawgood, Mohammed H Hassan, Khaled Abdalla Abd-Elbaseer, Mona Hashem Ibrahem, Khaled Mohammed Hassan Yousef, Ali Helmi Bakri","doi":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.117283","DOIUrl":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.117283","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a stress-responsive cytokine. Though less extensively studied in children than in adults, recent evidence highlights the potential value of GDF-15 in pediatric cardiology.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To assess the serum GDF-15 levels and the genetic profile of GDF-15 rs4808793 among children with cardiac diseases.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This case-control study included 100 pediatric cardiac patients and 50 healthy controls. GDF-15 rs4808793 (-3148C>G) single-nucleotide polymorphism was tested <i>via</i> restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction technique, and serum GDF-15 was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 69 children with various types of congenital heart diseases (CHD), 14 patients had rheumatic heart disease, and 17 had cardiomyopathy. About 50% of patients had heart failure. Significantly higher mean serum GDF-15 among patients compared to the controls, <i>P</i> < 0.001. Heart failure patients had significantly higher serum GDF-15 than those who didn't, <i>P</i> < 0.001. CC-genotype and C-allele of rs4808793 were significantly more frequent among cardiac patients compared to the controls (<i>P</i> = 0.002). C-allele of rs4808793 was associated with an increased CHD risk (odds ratio = 2.812, 95% confidence interval: 1.648-4.799).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>GDF-15 is a promising biomarker in predicting congenital heart disease and heart failure in children. The genetic variants of <i>GDF-15</i> (rs4808793) were significantly associated with CHD risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":75338,"journal":{"name":"World journal of clinical pediatrics","volume":"15 2","pages":"117283"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217203/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148140010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of soluble alpha-klotho as a novel biomarker for characterizing children with autism spectrum disorder in Kurdistan, Iraq.","authors":"Thikra A Allwsh, Dezheen S Kucher","doi":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.112164","DOIUrl":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.112164","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The identification of bioindicators for the detection and monitoring of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) still remains a major challenge in clinical medicine. The protein klotho has been linked to various neurological disorders.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate the evaluation of soluble alpha-klotho (S-KLα) as a new indicator for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with ASD. This study was conducted in the absence of any prior studies or research on the link between klotho and ASD, nor on how it affects the characteristics of those impacted. To address this gap, we considered this study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The case-control study involved 256 individuals of both sexes, aged between 2 years and 15 years, divided into two groups: 156 children with ASD from autism centers in Dohuk and Zakho cities, Kurdistan Region/Iraq, and 100 healthy individuals serving as the control group. Serum S-KLα level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Additionally, levels of hemoglobin, iron, glucose, uric acid, creatinine, and vitamin D3 were estimated, with all measurements conducted in duplicate. Afterwards, statistical analyses were performed. An additional component was a questionnaire containing information about the participants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed a significant decrease in S-KLα levels in the sera of patients with ASD (97.5 ± 19.6) compared to the control group (133.7 ± 32.4). Additionally, the area under the curve (0.91) from the receiver operating characteristic analysis confirms the potential of using S-KLα as a marker for ASD. Furthermore, a notable decline in S-KLα was observed with increasing age, and higher levels of S-KLα were found in girls compared to boys, in both the control and patient groups (<i>P</i> < 0.001). The S-KLα levels in patients with ASD were not influenced by family history or birth weight. However, a significant reduction was seen in patients who experienced a difficult birth (dystocia), as well as in preterm births (< 37 weeks) and post-term births (> 42 weeks). It was observed that there was a significantly negative correlation between S-KLα and glucose level. By contrast, positive correlations were found with hemoglobin, iron, and vitamin D3 (<i>P</i> < 0.01); however, no relationship was detected with creatinine and uric acid levels in patients with ASD.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This is the first case-control study to confirm the strong potential of serum S-KLα as a predictive biomarker in autism risk profiling. The proposals outlined by the study suggest new directions and strategies for future research, linking klotho as a potential diagnostic marker for ASD and its complications, as well as its possible role as a therapeutic target.</p>","PeriodicalId":75338,"journal":{"name":"World journal of clinical pediatrics","volume":"15 2","pages":"112164"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217222/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148140279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lived experiences of Jordanian mothers of children with cancer: A descriptive qualitative study.","authors":"Maha Atout, Rasmieh Al-Amer, Abd Alhadi Hasan, Rabia Allari","doi":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.115750","DOIUrl":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.115750","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Caring for children with cancer deeply affects mothers' daily lives, emotions, and family roles; however, to date, little has been learned about these experiences in the context of Jordan.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To examine the lived experiences of Jordanian mothers of children with cancer, with a focus on their coping mechanisms, support systems, and challenges.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This descriptive qualitative study involved the use of semi-structured interviews with 20 mothers of children visiting a pediatric hospital in Jordan. Thematic analysis was employed, guided by the transactional model of stress and coping and the theory of spiritual coping, to analyze the resulting data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three major themes were revealed. The idea of a transformative coping journey included several subthemes, namely shifting priorities, holding back tears to appear strong, learning important lessons, and reconstructing futures while delaying personal dreams. The second emergent theme, perceived challenges, included subthemes around the emotional irritability of the sick child; the impact on family life and daily routines; and preparation of the home environment for children after recovery. Finally, the theme of support systems included subthemes regarding emotional and practical support from extended family and the use of mothers' deep beliefs in destiny and God's will as key sources of strength and endurance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Developing a broad range of support services in the Jordanian context to assist parents whose children have been diagnosed with cancer is essential. Possible focuses for such programs could include the provision of counselling services, support groups, and educational resources to help parents more effectively manage stress, thereby enhancing their emotional well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":75338,"journal":{"name":"World journal of clinical pediatrics","volume":"15 2","pages":"115750"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217198/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148140114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pediatric acute cholecystitis: Risk factors and outcomes.","authors":"Sathyaprasad C Burjonrappa, Faith Blamon, Sean P Hurley","doi":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.114534","DOIUrl":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.114534","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pediatric acute cholecystitis is a growing concern due to rising childhood obesity rates and associated metabolic abnormalities.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To identify demographic and clinical risk factors, evaluate surgical outcomes, and analyze the impact of complications on hospitalization in pediatric patients undergoing cholecystectomy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective study was conducted on 12750 pediatric patients who underwent cholecystectomies in 2022. Data were collected from a de-identified National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, including age, gender, race, body mass index (BMI) status, clinical presentation, complications, and treatment details. Risk factors were assessed using logistic regression, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate postoperative readmission rates. Descriptive statistics explored demographic patterns and surgical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 12750 pediatric patients, the mean age was 12.8 years, with a median of 13.0 years. Gender distribution included 74.8% females and 25.2% males. Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) was observed in 36.3% of cases, and overweight (BMI: 25-29.9 kg/m²) in 58.2%. 1232 (9.6%) had a hemolytic disorder. 20% presented with elevated bilirubin levels. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy alone was performed in 84%, while cholangiogram and ductal interventions were performed in 16%. Complication rates included gallbladder perforation (8%), biliary abscess formation (5%), and sepsis (2%). Early cholecystectomy (< 2 days post-diagnosis) was associated with reduced hospital stays (median 1.0 day) and lower readmission rates (5%) compared to delayed surgery (> 5 days; median 3.0 days, readmission rate 12%). Approximately 33.5% of patients were identified as Hispanic, highlighting potential disparities in healthcare access.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Pediatric acute cholecystitis is an emerging public health concern linked to rising obesity rates. Early surgical intervention minimizes complications and reduces hospitalization durations. Pediatric-specific adaptations in the Tokyo Guidelines 2018 may be necessary to account for age-related differences in clinical presentation and facilitate accurate diagnosis. Addressing racial disparities and targeted prevention strategies is critical for optimizing outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":75338,"journal":{"name":"World journal of clinical pediatrics","volume":"15 2","pages":"114534"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217192/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148140110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the role of the Bristol stool chart in diagnosing functional constipation in pediatric populations.","authors":"Kriangsak Ounboontham, Thitima Ngoenmak","doi":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.118424","DOIUrl":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.118424","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Functional constipation (FC) is a common condition among children worldwide. Although the Rome IV criteria are diagnostic standard, evaluating infants and toddlers can be challenging. The Bristol stool chart (BSC) is a simple tool for describing stool consistency, but its diagnostic accuracy in young children is uncertain.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To compare the diagnostic performance of the BSC and Rome IV criteria in children under four years.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2025 to October 2025 among children aged 6 months to 4 years attending well-child visits at the Hospital. Parents completed validated Thai versions of the Rome IV questionnaire and the BSC. FC was diagnosed using the Rome IV criteria. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the BSC were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 275 children enrolled, 43 (15.6%) met the Rome IV criteria for FC. The FC group had a significantly higher mean age than the non-FC group (30.1 ± 11.9 months <i>vs</i> 21.2 ± 12.2 months, <i>P</i> < 0.001). A family history of constipation was associated with increased FC prevalence (<i>P</i> = 0.017). On the BSC, stool types 1-2 indicated constipation. Compared with the Rome IV criteria, the BSC demonstrated sensitivity of 48.8%, specificity of 98.3%, PPV of 84.0%, and NPV of 91.2%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The BSC shows high specificity but low sensitivity in young children; stool types 1-2 support FC and are best used to confirm diagnosis alongside the Rome IV criteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":75338,"journal":{"name":"World journal of clinical pediatrics","volume":"15 2","pages":"118424"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217085/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148140152","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index of Nigerian youth: A FitnessGram-based assessment.","authors":"Danladi Ibrahim Musa, Andrew A Tyoakaa, Tavershima Kparev, Gregory J Welk","doi":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.114903","DOIUrl":"10.5409/wjcp.v15.i2.114903","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The global decline in youth physical fitness and the concurrent rise in overweight and obesity have led to an increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, with low-income and middle-income countries disproportionately affected.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To determine the Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) achievement rates of Nigerian children and adolescents on the 20-meter shuttle run test and body mass index (BMI) using the FitnessGram criterion-referenced health standards.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 3225 school-aged children and adolescents [boys (<i>n</i> = 1522); girls (<i>n</i> = 1703)], aged 9-16 years, from Benue State, Nigeria. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was assessed using the FitnessGram 20-meter shuttle run test, and converted to aerobic capacity (AC) values, while BMI served as a proxy for body fat. Sex and age differences in CRF and BMI were examined using factorial analysis of covariance. Participants' HFZ achievement rates were determined based on FitnessGram standards.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The Healthy Fitness Zone achievement rates for AC were 82.7% for males and 78.7% for females. Younger children (9-11 years) exhibited higher compliance with CRF standards than older adolescents, a trend consistent across both sexes. Males consistently outperformed females in CRF. Regarding BMI, both sexes showed high achievement rates - 94.5% for males and 96.9% for females. Compared to Hungarian, European and American youth, Nigerian children and adolescents outperformed their international counterparts. In terms of BMI, Nigerian youth of both sexes outperformed their international peers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Based on FitnessGram standards, Nigerian youth demonstrated favorable AC and body composition relative to international peers. Nevertheless, there were sex and age disparities in AC, with adolescent females and older males at greater risk of falling below health standards. Interventions promoting regular endurance-based physical activity are urgently needed to mitigate future cardiovascular disease risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":75338,"journal":{"name":"World journal of clinical pediatrics","volume":"15 2","pages":"114903"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217214/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148140015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}