[The effect of the socioeconomic level on the lipid pattern in children and adolescents].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between socioeconomic status and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors in children from Madrid.


METHODS
We studied 2224 boys and girls, ages 2-18 years, attending five different school centers. They were divided into three socioeconomic groups: low class, middle-low class and middle high class, in regard to their parent's occupation and educational attainment. The evaluation included a blood analysis of serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (CT), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA), apolipoprotein B100 (Apo B), and the Apo A/Apo B and LDL/HDL ratios.


RESULTS
There was a positive correlation between socioeconomic status and total cholesterol, Apo A, Apo B and Apo A/Apo B, whereas socioeconomic status and triglycerides were inversely related. The LDL/HDL ratio varied according to age.


CONCLUSIONS
Unlike some previously published studies, we found that children belonging to high socioeconomic status have a more atherogenic lipid profile than those of middle low or low socioeconomic levels.
Arias Alvarez
M A
MA
Hospital del Niño Jesús, Madrid.
Sánchez Bayle
M
M
González Vergaz
A
A
García Cuartero
B
B
Santos Tapia
M
M
Serna Saugar
C
C
Baeza Mínguez
J
J
Arnaiz
P
P
Vila Dupla
S
S
Asensio Antón
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain; D014505:Urban Population
D008055:Lipids
Influencia del nivel socioeconómico en el patrón lipídico de niños y adolescentes.