Evaluation of Lipid Profiles of Children and Youth from Basic Health Units in Campinas, SP, Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Laboratory Study.

Abstract

BackgroundAmong dyslipidemias, hypercholesterolemia is considered the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in adults. In childhood and adolescence, elevated total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are positively associated with atherosclerosis markers, however, systematic screening for dyslipidemias in these groups is a controversial topic.ObjectiveTo characterize the frequencies, types and severity of dyslipidemias in children and adolescents attended at the Basic Health Units managed by SUS in Campinas/SP.MethodsAfter an agreement with the Municipal Health Department of Campinas, consecutive results of serum lipid profiles (n = 312,650) of individuals of both sexes (n = 62,530) aged between 1 day old and 19 years were obtained, from 2008 to 2015. Age groups and dyslipidemias were classified according to recommendations in the literature. The statistical significance level adopted was the probability value (p) of 0.05 or less.ResultsThe observed frequencies of increased TC, triglycerides (TG), LDL-C and non-HDL-C (NHDL-C) were 33%, 40%, 29% and 13% respectively, and of reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) the frequency was 39%. The frequencies, in general, were greater in females and in the southwest and south regions of the city, whose populations are more vulnerable from the socioeconomic point of view; on the other hand, in children and adolescents, the frequencies of TG and HDL-C prevailed, respectively.ConclusionsThe high frequency and regionalization of dyslipidemias in children and adolescents indicate the need for specific actions in the handling and treatment of such diseases by the public health system of Campinas.