Risk of dyslipidemia among children undergoing routine medical examinations in a secondary health care facility in Benin City, Edo State

Abstract

Dyslipidemias in children are a diverse group of disorders that include monogenic disorders as well as dyslipidemias caused by a variety of factors. Although cholesterol levels in healthy children differ with age, a potential link to the development of dyslipidemia may be important to determine the likelihood of an early diagnosis. In this cross-sectional study, 220 seemingly healthy children aged 1 to 12 years were studied in Benin City, Nigeria, to determine the pattern of lipid profile. An enzymatic method was used to analyze serum lipids from blood samples obtained from the participants. The level of dispersion of data needed to assess the risk of early childhood dyslipidemia was described using the 95th percentile scale. In the 1-3 years old age group, at least 95 percent of the boys had total cholesterol levels below 132 mg/dL, compared to 124 mg/dL among the girls of the same age. Similarly, total cholesterol levels in the 7-9 year old age group were 127 mg/dL in boys and 110 mg/dL in girls. These levels could serve as a guideline for children of the study’s age group who appear to be in good health. Elevated triglycerides levels were found in male children under the age of three years, as well as in the 10-12 age brackets. Increases in triglycerides in the girls, on the other hand, were not age- or time-dependent. In general, the lipid profiles shown in the results were low, particularly in the 4-6 year old age group. A significant modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease in children is elevated lipid levels. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of routinely screening children for dyslipidemia. Elevated lipid levels are a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease in children. The findings of this research can be used as a basis for screening children for dyslipidemia because it provides a 95th percentile in lipid profiles of seemingly healthy children.