[Hypercholesterolemia reduction in children and adolescents after two years of intervention].
BACKGROUND
Hypercholesterolemia, one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, can be detected since childhood. The early detection and a suitable educational process would allow to generate changes of habits and to decrease its prevalence. In 2003, total cholesterol (TC) > 170 mg/dl was found in 39.2% school children and adolescents, aged 5-17 years, of Jovita, Córdoba.


OBJECTIVE
To assess cholesterol levels decrease after an educational process and to analyze the relation between hypercholesterolemia and family history for cardiovascular diseases.


METHODS
Formal and no formal educational intervention was developed for two years, through curricular adaptations, talks, campaigns in radio and TV, graphic press, drama, workshops and leaflets. In 2005, cholesterol level was assessed, along with a survey on changes of nutritional habits and physical activity, and family history.


RESULTS
A group of 161 students was assesses in both opportunities. There was a significant reduction in total cholesterol (average 13 mg/dl; p< 0.0000), 51 students (31.7%) normalized their TC values (<170 mg/dl). The effect of regression to the average was 3 mg/dl. In a group of 66 students with TC > 199 mg/dl, the variations of the averages were: TC= -21 mg/dl, LDL-C= -16 mg/dl. The survey revealed improvements in the habits; family history was positive in 59%, unknown in 14%, and negative in 27%, the last ones had the best response to the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant reduction of TC was obtained in the studied population; this may be due to the educational intervention. More than a quarter of the individuals presented negative family history for cardiovascular risk factors. Decrease in TC was proportionally better in this group than in those with positive family history.
Robledo
Jorge A
JA
Laboratorio de Análisis Clínicos de Jovita, Jovita, Córdoba. jorge.a.robledo@gmail.com
Siccardi
Leonardo J
LJ
Cosio
Francisco
F
Rodríguez
María I
MI
Robledo
Pamela
P
Rojas
Natalia
N
Lubetkin
Alberto
A
D000293:Adolescent; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D002784:Cholesterol