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Prevalence of plasma lipid abnormalities in Saudi children

M A El-Hazmi1, A S Warsy

  • 1Medical Biochemistry Department and WHO Collaborating Centre for Hemoglobinopathies, Thalassaemias and Enzymopathies, College of Medicine and KKUH, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Annals of Saudi Medicine
|February 1, 2007
PubMed

Insights

This study assessed lipid levels in Saudi children, finding that 7.72% had borderline high cholesterol and 1.4% had borderline high triglycerides, indicating a need for lipid awareness programs.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric lipidology
  • Cardiovascular disease risk factors in children
  • Public health and epidemiology

Background:

  • Pediatric lipid levels exhibit population-specific variations.
  • Elevated lipid levels in children are linked to atherosclerosis development.
  • Investigating childhood lipid profiles is crucial for long-term cardiovascular health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia in Saudi children.
  • To assess cardiovascular disease risk based on lipid profiles in pediatric populations.
  • To inform the development of targeted health interventions.

Main Methods:

  • A national household screening program included 2914 children aged 1 to <15 years.
  • Fasting blood samples were analyzed for triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
  • Prevalence of borderline and high-risk lipid levels was calculated using established guidelines.

Main Results:

  • Overall cholesterol ranged from 2.0-5.7 mmol/L; triglyceride levels ranged from 0.1-1.7 mmol/L.
  • 7.72% of children were in the borderline risk group and 1.55% in the high-risk group for cholesterol.
  • 1.4% were in the borderline risk group and 0.55% in the high-risk group for triglycerides, with variations across age groups.

Conclusions:

  • The study highlights the prevalence of dyslipidemia in Saudi children.
  • There is a clear need for a lipid awareness program targeting Saudi children.
  • Early intervention can mitigate future adult dyslipidemia complications.
Abstract

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