Abstract

Background: Dyslipidaemias in childhood increase the risk of cardiovascular events in adult life. Aim: To evaluate the pre-valence of dyslipidaemia and risk of atherogenicity based in the atherogenic index of plasma (AlP) in a sample of school children and adolescents. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study of 208 children aged 10.4 ± 1.0 years (107 women). Demographic data were obtained, and a clinical evaluation was conducted, including pubertal development according to Tanner and anthropometric parameters. A fasting blood sample was obtained to measure total cholesterol (CT), HDL cholesterol (cHDL) and triglycericles (TG), glucose and insulin. LDL cholesterol (cLDL)., Non-HDL cholesterol and the indices CT/cHDL, cLDL/cHDL and AIP (log[TGIcHDLI) were calculated. Risk categories according to AIP for the pediatric population were also determined (low: AlP < 0.11, intermediate: AIP 0.11-0.21, high: AIP > 0.21). Results: Thirty eight percent of participants had dyslipidaemia, without differences by gender and pubertal development. The frequency of dyslipidaemia was significantly higher in children with obesity (54%, p < 0.01) and a waist circumference over percentile 90 (61%; p < 0.01). The later conditions had also higher CTIcHDL, CLDL/CHDL and AIP. According to AlP, 54% of children had a high atherogenicity risk along with alterations in anthropometric parameters and insulin resistance. All anthropometric and insulin resistance parameters were significantly correlated with the AIP. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of dyslipidaemia in the studied population, which is associated with an increased cardiometabolic risk. The indices of atherogenicity and particularly AlP are correlated with nutritional status, abdominal obesity and parameters of insulin resistance.