News from Brenner Children’s Hospital
from BestHealth, July 2005
Pediatric Metabolic Syndrome Clinic Opens
Brenner Children’s Hospital, part of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, has opened a new clinic to treat children suffering from metabolic syndrome. Children are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome when they have high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, are overweight and at risk for diabetes.
“In a short period of time, these children are at risk for developing heart disease and diabetes — serious medical conditions that could shorten their lives,” said Wesley Covitz, M.D., chairman of pediatric cardiology. “Many people don’t view obesity as a serious health problem, but it is a huge problem that we need to address.”
Pediatric cardiologists, nutritionists and exercise physiologists work with each patient to identify areas for improvement in their diet and exercise programs. A dietitian who is fluent in Spanish is available to help Hispanic children—a population in which metabolic syndrome is more prevalent.
“We hope by addressing these weak areas at an early age, many of these children can avoid life-long health complications and lead active, healthy lives,” Covitz said.
NIH Pediatric Heart Network
Brenner Children’s Hospital is participating in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Pediatric Heart Network. It is now one of 11 pediatric hospitals across the United States conducting clinical trials on patients with heart defects.
“This allows us to merge resources with other prestigious academic medical centers and find ways to improve care for children with heart problems,” said Covitz.
Researchers will conduct clinical trials to find the best treatment methods for children suffering from heart conditions that may result in heart failure, and will test medications and surgical interventions to find the best treatments. Brenner Children’s Hospital will conduct four clinical trials in 2005.
“By conducting clinical trials, we are able to offer our patients the very latest treatment advances,” said Covitz.