Tracking of lipids in schoolchildren: a four-year follow-up, population-based study in Sousse (Tunisia)

OBJECTIVE: Dyslipidaemia, which is now seen as one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors, is becoming more common in the younger population. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of tracking serum lipid levels over a four-year period in an urban population of schoolchildren. METHODS: The study began in 1999 with a cohort of 789 schoolchildren. Four years later this group was resurveyed and a further 452 adolescent were recruited to the study. RESULTS: The percentages of boys who were initially in the extreme quartile for total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides were 42.5, 54.8 and 40.4%, respectively. Similarly, the percentages of girls in the extreme quartile were 62.7, 53.8 and 38.2%. Four years later, both the boys and girls were still in the extreme quartile for these parameters. Therefore, the best predictor of follow-up level for each of the serum lipoprotein cholesterol fractions was the corresponding baseline level. Interestingly, the next best predictor in most of the groups was change in body mass index (ΔBMI) and smoking status. CONCLUSION: Prevention of coronary heart diseases in adults must begin early on in childhood, and should be driven by health education towards achieving a healthy lifestyle.