Authors

1 Birjand atherosclerosis and coronary artery research center, Associate professor of pediatric, Birjand University of Medical Sciences(BUMS),

2 Birjand atherosclerosis and coronary artery research center, Assistante professor of pediatric

3 Professor of Cardiology, Birjand University of Medical Sciences(BUMS

4 Assistante professor of Social Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences(BUMS

Abstract

Abstract:
Introduction: Racial and environmental differences in communities leading cause of differences in serum lipids. It can be said this study aimed in assessing percentile curves of serum lipid profile about 6-18 years old students of Birjand.
Method: The present cross-sectional study was done on 4168 students of Birjand aged 6-18 years. They were classified into three age groups 6-10 and 15-18 and 11-14 years. The 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 95th percentiles of lipids (cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides) were determined by sex for different age groups.
Result: The 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 95th percentiles for cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and TG were 114,123, 138, 157, 176, 197, 210; 54, 59, 71, 86, 102, 119, 131; 33, 36, 41, 48, 56, 64, 68 and 43, 49, 61, 78, 103, 138, 164, respectively.
Conclusion: Percentiles of lipid in kids of Birjand are different in comparison with reference percentiles of the U.S and also Tehran. Triglycerides and HDL in children and adolescents of Birjand were higher and lower, respectively than the Americans. This could be due to racial differences and environmental factors such as nutrition and sedentary life style. This should be considered in interpretation of normal and abnormal values and determination of dyslipidemia in children and adolescents. Take the regional percentiles of serum lipids for Iranian children and adolescents recommended by examining a sufficient number of samples.

Keywords

Introduction:

   During these decades cardiovascular disease as the main reason of adult mortality has been increased especially in many of developing countries (1-3). Dyslipidemia or, abnormal levels of blood lipids such as hypercholesterolemia begins in Childhood and adolescence and can lead to premature atherosclerosis (4-6).Bugalus Heart Study Autopsy studies showed that high total cholesterol (TC) and LDL (low density lipoprotein) and low HDL (high density lipoprotein) are associated with increasing coronary artery lesions (7, 8).   It is known which not only in adults but also in children and adolescents, dyslipidemia is related with other cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and obesity (9, 10). Serum lipids levels are related to gender, race, and age in children and adolescents (11).Like of many developing countries, cardiovascular disease and its associated risk factors such as obesity as a public health problem is increasing in Iran (12-14).Therefore study of Lipid profile and prevalence of dyslipidemia especially in children and adolescents is important. Considering that the environment and racial differences could lead to difference in lipid profile of various communities, herein we aim to determine lipid percentiles in 6-18 years old adolescents of Birjand.

   Materials and methods:

   The present cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study was done on 4168 middle and high school students aged 6-18 years (2220 girls and 1948 boys) in Brigand, eastern of Iran in 2012.The samples were selected through multistage cluster sampling. Considering the distribution of schools in different districts of the city, at first 24 girls’ schools and 24 boys’ schools each consisting 10 primary, 7 middle, and 7 high schools were selected. Then, some students were selected from each class with respect to the population of each school and its ratio to the total number of students in that class. Firstly, 4500 students were chosen and a demographic questionnaire bearing a consent form was sent to each one’s parents. The parents were requested to fill out the demographic and consent forms then return them to school if they agreed with their kid’s participation in the plan. The exclusion criteria were: (a) not having any chronic disease or endocrine disorder such as diabetes; (b) not being on treatment of corticosteroids or drugs influencing lipid profile. In the next step, after getting the permission from the education office and ensuring coordination with it, two trained nurses referred to the schools and recorded the demographic information in the data collection. At the end, because of defects in the information, a few of the subjects were excluded offered 4168 subjects remained for analysis. Blood samples of the subjects were derived in order to test blood lipids including cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, and LDL after a 12 hour fasting from cubital vein of the left hand. The blood sample was taken in vacuum tubes in amount of 5 ml containing separator gel and clot activator manufactured by Bacton Dickinson (U.K). In order of lipid levels determination, the obtained samples were immediately centrifuged, and applying enzymatic procedure using German Rosh kits, with Biochemical Autoanalyser Prestige 24i (Japan). Statistical analysis was performed by means of SPSS software (v: 15). P ≤ 0.05 was taken as the significant level.

Results:

In the present study 4168 students, aged 6-18 yrs, including 1948 (46.7%) girls and 2220(53.3%) boys, were included. 33%, 42.2%, And 24.8%, of students were in the age groups of 6-10, 11-14, and 15-18 years, respectively. The 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 95th percentiles for cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and TG were 114, 123, 138, 157, 176, 197, 210;  54, 59, 71, 86, 102, 119, 131;  33, 36, 41, 48, 56, 64, 68, and 43, 49, 61, 78, 103, 138, 164, respectively (Table 1-4). Mean TC and LDL were significantly higher in girls than boys (p=0.007) as 156.9 ± 30.6 and 86.7 ± 24.2 mg/dl for boys and 159.4 ± 28.2 and 88.7±23.3 mg/dl for girls. Mean TG was 87.9 mg/dl, that there was no statistically significant difference between the two sexes (p=0.97). Mean HDL was higher in boys (49.29±11.7) compared to girls (48.90±10.2), however the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.25). The age groups of 6-10 and 15-18 years among of all age groups had highest and lowest amount of mean TC, LDL, and HDL, respectively. The lowest and highest mean of TG were obtained for 6-10 and 10-14 aged groups, respectively. Mean of all serum lipids at different age groups were significantly different (p<0.001).

Discussion:

   In the present study, the mean TC, LDL, HDL, and TG were measured about158 (boys 156 and girls 159), 87.8 (boys 86.7 and girls 87.7), 49(boys 49.2and girls 48.9), and 87.9 mg/dl in both sexes, respectively. According to the obtained results within 5th, 75th, 90th, and 95th percentiles of lipids, it can be concluded that with the exception of 5th percentile, total cholesterol of other percentiles in the cases of Birjand with the age group of 6-10 and 11-14 years old was higher than American ones(15). For the individuals of Birjand between 15-18 years, all of TC percentiles were lower than the American ones except about the 95th percentile of males which it was higher than the America (15).In the present study, the 5th percentile for LDL in the age group of 6-10 years old was lower than the American cases. The 75th, 90th, and 95th percentiles of LDL in the males and females of Birjand were higher and lower than American ones, respectively (15). However, all of the percentiles of the cases of Birjand in the 11-14 and 15-18 ages were lower than the Americans (15).  Nevertheless 10th HDL percentile of females and 95th HDL percentile of males aged 6-10 were respectively higher and equal to American findings, the other HDL percentiles were lower than American ones. In the age group of 10-14  years old, all of the percentiles of Birjand teens were lower than the American ones (15). The 5th and 95th percentiles of HDL within male teens aged 15-18 years were higher than American ones but 10th percentile was equal and the rest percentiles of Birjand teens were lower than the American ones(15).In this study, the 5th, 75th, 90th, and 95th TG percentiles were higher than American ones in the all age groups (15). The study on the students of Birjand aged 6-12 years indicates all of TG percentiles and HDL percentiles were higher and lower than American cases, respectively(16).The results of a study on the 4824 students aged 6-18 from six Iranian cities (Tabriz, Rasht, Gorgan, Mashhad, Yazd, and Tehran)(17) and findings of a few related studies showed that percentiles of TG and HDL of Iranian adolescents were higher and lower, respectively than American and many other countries adolescents(18-20).In another study conducted by Kelishadi on 2000 students from Esfahan it was found that percentiles of TC, TG, LDL, and HDL were higher and lower than those of USA. She compared the results of two conducted studies in 1993 and 1999 and revealed the increasing of TC, LDL, and HDL levels (21).  In another study conducted by her about students aged 6-18 from 23 Iranian provinces, mean and percentiles of TG and percentiles of TC, LDL, and HDL in Iranian children and adolescents were higher and lower, respectively than the LRC (lipid Research Clinic) level (22). Herein, percentiles of TG and most of HDL were lower than American cases. These findings are in agreement with other Iranian studies (17-20).However, there are different reports about cholesterol and LDL. Some Iranian studies have reported higher amounts and some others have concluded lower amounts of cholesterol and LDL in comparison to American studies. In the present study, we found different values for different age groups. In summary, our results indicate that cholesterol amounts of the 6-10 and 11-14 age groups were similar to Esfahan study findings and higher than American outputs (22).  TC in the age group of 15-18 were lower than that American (22).Also, the results about LDL in the age group of 6-10 years old was higher but in the11-14 and 15-18 years old were lower than that American ones respectively. They were consistent with Kelishadi findings conducted in 23 Iranian provinces (21, 22).

According to a study among the Korean students aged 10-18, all percentiles of TC for Korean adolescents were lower compared to American ones. Mean and 50th percentile of LDL in Korean adolescents were near to results of American research while 95th percentile was lower (23).  Another study on Korean adolescents showed that TC and LDL were near to findings about American ones and HDL has lower value (24). It can be due to racial differences and environmental factors such as nutrition and sedentary lifestyle which they could be influenced on the normal and abnormal amount of children and adolescent dyslipidemia. In order to make a diagnosis of dyslipidemia, preparation of regional lipid percentiles within Iranian kids is recommended.

Acknowledgement

The authors feel themselves obliged to the research assistant of BUMS for accepting their plan and paying the expense of the project. They also thank the authorities of Birjand Education Office and all of the students who took part in the study. They also thank the Department of Health for paying 50% of expense of the project.

No Conflict of Interest

 

 
 
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Table 1. TC percentiles and their mean values for different age groups/sexes.
percentile
SD
mean
number
Age number
95th
90th
75th
50th
25th
10th
5th
217
205
185
166
150
135
127
27.04
168.16
1374
6-10
all
206
193
173
154
136
122
115
28.61
156.06
1761
11-14
200
184
164
146
129
114
107
29.82
148.85
1033
15-18
210
197
176
157
138
123
114
29.38
158.26
4168
total
219
207
187
167
151
138
125
27.18
169.54
629
6-10
male
206
194
174
154
136
120
112
28.96
155.73
847
11-14
198.3
176
155
138
123
111
104.6
30.82
142.32
472
15-18
211
198
175
155
136
120
112
30.60
156.94
1948
total
214
202
183
166
150
134
128
26.90
166.99
745
6-10
female
206
192
173
154
136
123
116.7
28.30
156.36
914
11-14
201.8
187.8
171
152
137
122
110
27.82
154.34
561
15-18
209
195
176
158
140
125
118
28.23
159.41
2220
Total
 
 
Table 2.  LDL percentiles and their mean values for different age groups/sexes.
percentile
SD
mean
number
Age number
95
90
75
50
25
10
5
137
126.5
109
94
79
67
59
23.14
95.45
1374
6-10
all
126
115
98
84
70
59
54
22.82
85.57
1761
11-14
122
111
95
79
65
55
49
23.75
81.41
1033
15-18
131
119
102
86
71
59
54
23.82
87.80
4168
total
137
129
110
93
80
68
61.5
22.93
95.69
629
6-10
male
126
115
98
84
69
58
52.4
22.87
85.14
847
11-14
119
105.7
89
74
62
53
45
24.51
77.67
472
15-18
131
119
100
85
70
58
52
24.27
86.73
1948
total
138
125
109
94
79
65
59
23.33
95.25
745
6-10
female
128.2
115
97
83
71
60
54.7
22.77
85.97
914
11-14
123
115
97
83
68
58
51
22.63
84.56
561
15-18
131
118
103
87
73
61
55
23.28
87.73
2220
Total
 
 
Table 3.  HDL percentiles and their mean values for different age groups/sexes.
percentile
SD
mean
number
Age number
95
90
75
50
25
10
5
71
66
59
52
45
39
36
10.78
52.30
1374
6-10
all
67
63
55
48
41
35
32
10.93
48.37
1761
11-14
65
59
52
45
38
34
32
10.10
46.01
1033
15-18
68
64
56
48
41
36
33
10.95
49.08
4168
total
74
67
60
53
45.5
40
37
11.30
53.55
629
6-10
male
69
65
56
48
41
35
33
11.78
49.41
847
11-14
59.3
56
49
43
36
32
31
9.33
43.39
472
15-18
70
65
56
48
41
35
32
11.70
49.29
1948
total
69
65
58
50
44
39
35
10.21
51.24
745
6-10
female
66
61
54
47
40
35
32
10.00
47.40
914
11-14
68
63
54
47
41
36
34
10.20
48.22
561
15-18
67
63
55
48
42
36
34
10.26
48.90
2220
total
 
 
 
Table 4.  TG percentiles and their mean values for different age groups/sexes.
percentile
SD
mean
number
Age number
95
90
75
50
25
10
5
142
121
92
71
56
45
40.75
34.77
79.18
1374
6-10
all
178
147
113
84
66
52
46
43.13
94.66
1761
11-14
165
138
101
76
61
49
42
47.43
88.12
1033
15-18
164
138
103
78
61
49
43
42.26
87.93
4168
total
138
118
91
70
54
44
38.5
32.65
76.65
629
6-10
male
187
155
113
81
63
49
43
47.73
94.37
847
11-14
189.7
147.7
106
77
60
46
41
53.19
91.32
472
15-18
173
141
105
76
59
46
41
45.61
87.91
1948
total
146.7
125
94
73
58
47
42
36.34
81.31
745
6-10
female
166.7
141
113
86
68
55
50.7
38.41
94.92
914
11-14
154
127
99
76
62
50
43
41.84
85.42
561
15-18
159
134
103
80
62.2
51
45
39.09
87.95
2220
total