Tracking of serum total cholesterol during childhood: an 8-year follow-up population-based family study in eastern Finland.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the tracking of serum total cholesterol (TC) during childhood.


METHODS
All children born during 1981-1982 in a rural community of eastern Finland were followed at 6 mo, 7 y and 15 y of age. The full follow-up period was completed by 138 out of 205 children, of whom 82 (33 girls) had TC measured at 7 y and 15 y of age (-7 y, -15 y). The main outcome measurement was TC (mmol/L).


RESULTS
TC-7 y was significantly associated with TC-15 y (r = 0.655; p-value < 0.001). This correlation did not change significantly after accounting for confounders. Children in the highest tertile of TC-7 y had a significantly higher risk of being in the highest tertile of TC-15 y compared with children in other tertiles of TC-7 y (relative risk = 6.4 (2.9-13.9)). TC-15 y was predicted positively by TC-7 y (linear regression beta = 0.63; p-value < 0.001) and parental high TC (TC > or = 5.0 mmol/L in at least one parent) (beta = 0.58; p-value = 0.030). Birthweight had no significant association with TC during childhood.


CONCLUSIONS
The study confirmed the tracking of TC during childhood. The identification of children at risk of developing high TC during adolescence should take into consideration the child's previous TC values during childhood and parental TC status.
Fuentes
R M
RM
Department of Public Health and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland. ricardo.fuentes@messi.uku.fi
Notkola
I L
IL
Shemeikka
S
S
Tuomilehto
J
J
Nissinen
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D013997:Time Factors
D002784:Cholesterol