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[Cholesterol screening in a pediatric population at atherosclerotic risk]
M Spinello1, C Montanari, S Scuttari
1Divisione Universitaria di Pediatria, Ospedale S. Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, Torino, Italia.
Insights
In a study of 344 children, high LDL cholesterol levels were identified as a key indicator of atherosclerotic risk. This finding highlights the importance of monitoring lipid profiles in pediatric populations to prevent cardiovascular disease.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors
Context:
- Study included 344 children (ages 6-15) with family history or indicators of cardiovascular issues like obesity and hypertension.
- Children underwent blood tests for lipids, including total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides.
Purpose:
- To investigate cholesterol levels in children at risk for cardiovascular disease.
- To determine the most significant lipid marker for predicting atherosclerotic development in pediatric patients.
Summary:
- 127 children (36%) had hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol >170 mg/dl), with average LDL of 127.05 mg/dl.
- 217 children were within normal limits (total cholesterol 137.76 mg/dl, LDL 75.59 mg/dl).
- LDL cholesterol showed a greater percentage difference (40.5%) compared to total cholesterol (29.61%) between hypercholesterolemic and normal groups.
Impact:
- Results indicate that LDL cholesterol concentration is a critical indicator of atherosclerotic risk, even in childhood.
- Emphasizes the need for early screening and monitoring of pediatric lipid profiles to mitigate future cardiovascular events.
Abstract:
We studied 344 children (174 girls and 170 boys) between the ages of 6 and 15 years (average age 11 years 9 months) chosen on the basis of a positive family anamnesis for dismetabolic and/or precocious cardiovascular pathologies, and also on the basis of objective data obtained at medical examinations, such as obesity and hypertension. These subjects underwent blood tests for glycaemia, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Children with total cholesterol levels above 170 mg/dl were considered to be hypercholesterolemic. 127 young people (65 girls and 62 boys) turned out to have excessively high cholesterol levels with an average level of 195.71 +/- 23.11 mg/dl and average LDL level of 127.05 +/- 25.08 mg/dl. 217 subjects (109 girls and 108 boys) turned out to be within the norm with total cholesterol level of 137.76 +/- 23.04 mg/dl and LDL cholesterol 75.59 +/- 22.89 mg/dl. We found a greater difference between the average values of LDL cholesterol and those of total cholesterol (40.5% compared to 29.61%), which shows that even at pediatric ages the LDL cholesterol concentration is the factor which best indicates the risk level for atherosclerotic development.