OBJECTIVE: To determine the distribution of serum lipids in children and adolescents of Florianopolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. To determine the association between undesirable levels for total cholesterol (>170 mg/dL) and others coronary heart disease risks factors. METHODS: A questionnaire, physical examination and blood analyses were collected from randomized sample from school kids aged range from 7 to 18 years old. RESULTS: 1,053 students participated, aged between 7 and 18 years old. They presented a total cholesterol mean of 162±28 mg/dl, triglyceride mean of 93±47 mg/dl, HDL-cholesterol mean of 53±10 mg/dl, LDL-cholesterol mean of 92±24 mg/dl and non-HDL cholesterol mean of 109±26 mg/dl. The TC/HDL and LDL/HDL mean rates were, respectively, 3.1±0.6 and 1.8±0.5. Findings showed that private school children, 10 years old or less, girls and black children had higher lipids values. Overall findings suggest that the best logistic regression model which explained abnormal total cholesterol levels included: obesity, stroke and heart attack familial history, feminine gender, age of 10 years old or less and overweight body image determined on inspection. CONCLUSION: In comparison to international literature, our results, showed intermediated total cholesterol, lower LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL-cholesterol and higher HDL-cholesterol. Therefore, primary prevention programs are needed to be carrying out, especially among overweight children and adolescents so to prevent ischemic heart disease as adulthood.
child; adolescent; lipids; atherosclerosis; risk factors
