[Tracking of blood cholesterol and arterial pressure in adolescence]

Early identification of atherosclerosis precursors and assessment of secular trends are key factors in organizing primary prevention programs. Tracking phenomenon for serum cholesterol and blood pressure has been evaluated at two years' interval in a group of students of both sexes, aged 11-15 years, in the municipality of Mugnano, near Naples. Serum cholesterol has been followed in 77 students and blood pressure--systolic and diastolic--in 160. Forty-three % serum cholesterol levels, 44% of systolic blood pressure measurements, and 25% of diastolic blood pressure values, that were in the upper quintile at the first visit, were found in the upper quintile again at the second visit. Our results point out that: there is a chance to identify "high" values, that may persist over time, especially for serum cholesterol and systolic blood pressure; great caution must be exercised in taking isolated measurements of serum cholesterol, systolic and particularly diastolic blood pressure at a young age as indicators in implementing prevention programs.