Distribution of HDL–cholesterol and non-HDL–cholesterol in Brazilian children and adolescents – The Floripa study

Background and aimsHDL–cholesterol (HDL–C) and non-HDL–cholesterol (nHDL–C) are involved in atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of HDL–C and nHDL–C and its association with cardiovascular and socio-cultural variables in a pediatric Brazilian sample.Methods and resultsChildren and adolescents from Florianopolis were randomly selected and a structured questionnaire was administered, a physical examination was performed and a blood sample was collected. Enzymatic and Direct methods in vitro were used to determine the total cholesterol and HDL–cholesterol levels. The associations among HDL–C and nHDL–C and the described variables were tested by odds ratio and logistic regression. A total of 1009 individuals were examined. Based on the Brazilian criteria, 23% were classified with low levels of HDL–C and 25% with high levels of non-HDL–C. After multivariate analysis there were significant associations among low HDL–C and high C-reactive protein (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 2.1–5.2), paternal tobacco use (OR, 1.5; 95% CI,1.1–2.1), and high triceps-to-subscapular index (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1–2.2). There were also significant associations among high nHDL–C and high waist circumference (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.16–3.29), black skin color (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.06–3.06), and high income (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.09–2.02).ConclusionsIn this sample, low levels of HDL–C were associated with other clinical variables such as a centripetal fat pattern and C-reactive protein, and n-HDL–C was associated with abdominal obesity, skin color and economic class.