This new superhero is the initiative of Prof Ruan Kruger whose research in the early detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease is making important contributions in the fight against hypertension and obesity in Africa.

 

Ruan is the SARChI Research Chair for the early detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease in Africa, which is funded by the Department of Science and Innovation and the National Research Foundation. The introduction of Captain Heart coincided with Ruan’s inaugural lecture on 2 September 2021.

 

Journey through arteries promotes heart health

 

Captain Heart comes to life in an exciting and fun animation video and comic book for children aged five to 13 years. An informative pamphlet has been designed to give parents practical advice in ensuring healthier choices for their children.

 

The story follows Captain Heart taking a young girl, Carol, and her group of friends on a journey in Captain Heart’s little car through the body and to the heart of a person who did not make healthy choices. On their way they have to endure a narrow escape through plaque-filled arteries.

 

They learn about important concepts such as blood pressure, body mass index and pulse wave velocity and this newfound knowledge empowers them to become heart heroes themselves.

 

Captain Heart developed from study

 

Ruan says the concept of Captain Heart originated from a study called Exercise, Arterial Modulation and Nutrition in Youth South Africa (ExAMIN Youth SA), of which he is principal investigator.

 

His recent research, titled “A demographic approach to assess elevated blood pressure and obesity in prepubescent children: the ExAMIN Youth South Africa study”, also inspired several concepts in the development of Captain Heart.

 

More about the study

 

The ExAMIN Youth SA study sought to determine the prevalence of hypertension and obesity in a group of 1 062 South African children between the ages of five and nine, and to identify unique characteristics in terms of sex and ethnicity. It also estimated the odds of developing high blood pressure in the presence of excess adiposity (body fat).

 

Almost 20% of the children in the study were overweight and 14,1% had elevated blood pressure and 22,8% hypertension.Ethnic differences included greater adiposity in white compared to black children, but higher diastolic blood pressure and total vascular resistance in black compared to white children; these indicators were also higher in girls than boys.

 

Diastolic blood pressure measures the force at which the heart pushes on the walls of arteries in between beats.

 

“From the study it was clear that unique sex and ethnic differences in body composition and blood pressure exist in prepubescent children, with overweight/obesity increasing the risk of elevated blood pressure.

 

Click here to read more about the study.

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