A STUDY OF BLOOD CHOLESTEROL AND RELATED RISK FACTORS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN OF DUHOK GOVERNORATE, KURDISTAN REGION, IRAQ

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjective: To determine blood cholesterol levels and related risk factors ofhypercholesterolemia in a sample of primary school children from Duhok governorate.Methods: A cross sectional- study of 1136 primary school children (572 males, 564 females)aged 6-10 years; from December 2013 to May 2014 was conducted. A structuredquestionnaire was used to get information relating to animal fat intake, social status; andfamily history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. The childrenwere examined for height, weight, blood cholesterol levels and the body mass index (BMI)were calculated. Hypercholesterolemia defined according to the American Academy ofPediatrics (AAP) guidelines. A cutoff point of < 170 mg/dl of total cholesterol used toclassify children as on desirable level, borderline 170-199 mg/dl and high > 200 mg/dl.Results: The mean blood cholesterol was 154.4±35.8 mg/dl with a range of 76-278 mg/dl.Desirable, borderline and high blood cholesterol levels were defined in 745(65.6%),286(25.2%) and 105(9.2%) children, respectively. Of 1136 children, 50(4.4%) wereoverweight; mean blood cholesterol in overweight was 181.2 mg/dl compared to 153.8 mg/dlin not overweight children (P < 0.01). Mean blood cholesterol levels were not significantlydifferent by age, gender, positive family history of children for diabetes mellitus,hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, animal fat intake/week and social status. Odds ratioof having high blood cholesterol levels in overweight children compared to not overweightchildren was 2.14 (95%Cl 1.21-3.78).Conclusions: A borderline or abnormal blood cholesterol level screened by the AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics guidelines (AAP) values defined in one third of primary schoolchildren. Overweight was the major risk factor for elevated blood cholesterol in primaryschool children from Duhok governorate.