Screening of Dyslipidemia and Obesity among Children in Zagazig University Hospitals

Abstract

Background: Westerners are well aware of plasma lipid problems, which are becoming increasingly important in the Middle East. The European Expert Panel has advocated universal screening as a preferable approach of hypercholesterolemia screening as a part of the primary preventive effort.

Objective: To assess the relation between dyslipidemia and its risk factors; age and body mass index.

Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study that included 357 of children who visited the Pediatrics General Outpatient Clinic at Zagazig University Hospitals. All subjects were subjected to full history taking, general examination, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and laboratory investigations including: non-fasting and fasting lipid profiles.

Results: Non-fasting total cholesterol (TC) of ≥ 200 was (14.3%) and < 200 was (85.7%). Non-fasting (LDL) of ≥ 130 was (16.8%) and <130 was (83.2%). HDL category of < 40 was (61.3%) and ≥ 40 was (38.7%). There was no statistically significant difference between age, sex and lipid profiles. There was statistically significant positive correlation between non-fasting triglycerides (TG) and non-fasting HDL and non-fasting non-HDL-C.

Conclusion: Obesity was associated with the prevalence of at least one abnormal lipid level. This highlights the importance of paying greater attention to the prevention of cardiovascular disease and obesity in children from an early age.