Percentile curves for cardiometabolic disease markers in Canadian children and youth: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study to develop percentile curves for cardiometabolic disease markers in a population-based sample of Canadian children and youth. METHODS: The analysis used data from 6116 children and adolescents between 6 and 19 years of age who participated in the Canadian Health Measures Survey cycles 1 (2007/2009), 2 (2009/2011), and 3 (2012/2013). Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and hemoglobin A1c levels as well as fasting levels of triglycerides, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance were measured using standardized procedures. Age- and sex-specific centiles for all markers were calculated using Cole and Green’s LMS method. RESULTS: With the exception of hemoglobin A1c, all markers showed age- and sex-related differences during childhood and adolescence. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed centile curves for cardiometabolic disease markers in Canadian children and adolescents and demonstrated age and sex differences that should be considered when evaluating these markers in this age group.