Prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia in outpatient children aged 9-11 years

Hypercholesterolaemia is a silent disease that is considered to be one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease, often beginning in childhood, and early diagnosis and management may reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis and early cardiovascular disease in early adulthood.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the importance of universal screening for dyslipidemia in children aged 9-11 years.

An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2021 to June 2022. A total of 532 children (279 girls and 253 boys) aged 9-11 years were enroled, and non-fasting blood samples were obtained to measure total cholesterol (TC) levels in the blood.

The mean serum TC was 136.4±28.1 mg/dl. Thirty-two children (6%) of the screened participants had abnormal TC levels; those were tested subsequently by fasting serum TC, and 19 children were confirmed as dyslipidemic (3.5%). The prevalence of borderline blood cholesterol levels (TC between 170 and 199 mg/dl) was 2.6% CI 95% (2.2-3.2), and the prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia (TC ≥200 mg/dl) was 0.9% CI 95% (0.5-1.4). A positive correlation was found between body mass index and blood cholesterol level. (r = 0.55, P =0.002).

Universal non-fasting TC screening in children aged 9-11 years old is effective in detecting hypercholesterolaemia. Since the authors found that the positive family history as the sole basis for selective examination in children is insufficient.