Precursors of atherosclerosis in schoolchildren

In a longitudinal study, the authors examined all the pupils 12-14 years of age in two schools at Kutná (Central Bohemian Region). Serum cholesterol (CH), triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), blood pressure and pulse rate were determined in 279 children (129 boys and 150 girls). Almost 2% of the children had blood pressure levels of 135/80 mmHg (18/10.6 kPa) or higher. 11% of the boys and 9% of the girls had a total serum cholesterol level higher than 5.17 mmol/l (200 mg %), and in 3% of the children it even exceeded 5.68 mmol/l (220 mg %). Hypertriglyceridaemia (1.4 mmol/l = 100 mg %) was found in 7% of the boys and 6 % of the girls. Mean LDL/CH and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratios were significantly higher in the group of hypercholesterolaemic children than in those with low total cholesterol. The study confirms that abnormal lipids, lipoproteins and blood pressure values may be present already in early life. About one-third of the children of the studied population carry at least one of the factors recognized as predictors of diseases due to atherosclerosis in adults.