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Lipid profile of Mexican children with Down syndrome
Silvestre Garcia-de la Puente1, Karla A Flores-Arizmendi2, María J Delgado-Montemayor2
1Department of Research Methodology, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Ciudad de México, Mexico. garciadelapuente@hotmail.com.
Insights
Children with Down syndrome (DS) frequently have abnormal lipid profiles, including low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides. This highlights the need for monitoring lipid health in this population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
- Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Down syndrome (DS) is linked to congenital anomalies and metabolic issues, including dyslipidemias.
- Dyslipidemias in DS can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize lipid concentrations in children with Down syndrome.
- To determine the prevalence of dyslipidemias in pediatric patients with DS.
Main Methods:
- Serum lipid levels (cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides) were measured.
- Height, weight, and obesity status were recorded for 386 children aged 2-18 years with DS.
Main Results:
- Over half of the children (57.5%) exhibited some form of dyslipidemia.
- Low HDL cholesterol (45.9%) and hypertriglyceridemia (26.2%) were the most prevalent lipid alterations.
- Dyslipidemia showed a significant association with obesity and central obesity.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric patients with Down syndrome commonly present with unfavorable lipid profiles.
- Low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides are particularly common in this cohort.
Introduction:
Down syndrome (DS) is associated with various congenital anomalies and metabolic alterations, such as dyslipidemias, that can lead to cardiovascular disease in adulthood. This study was designed to describe the lipid concentrations and the frequency of dyslipidemias in children with DS.
Materials And Methods:
The sample included 386 patients, 52.4% male. The study was carried out on children with DS, aged 2-18 years old, who were patients at the Mexican National Institute of Pediatrics between May 2016 and June 2017. Their height and weight were recorded, and their serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were determined.
Results:
Of the total patients included, 57.5% had some type of dyslipidemia, 32.6% isolated and 24.9% combined. The most common alteration, considering both isolated and combined dyslipidemias, was low HDL, in 45.9%, followed by hypertriglyceridemia, in 26.2%. Among those with combined dyslipidemia, high TG with low HDL-c was the most common, in 17.9%. A significant association was found between dyslipidemia and obesity, as well as between dyslipidemia and central obesity. The percentiles of lipid values are reported.
Conclusion:
The presence of an unfavorable lipid profile is common in pediatric patients with Down syndrome, especially low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides.
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