Prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia in outpatient children aged 9-11 years.

Abstract

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±28.1mg/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 199mg/dl) was 2.6% CI 95% (2.2-3.2), and the prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia (TC ≥200mg/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.