Cardiovascular risk factors in schoolchildren.

A total of 1470 students in Berlin, Germany, aged 7-22 years, were screened for cardiovascular risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, obesity, smoking habits, and a positive family history. Only 56% had no modifiable risk factor, but 16% showed total cholesterol (TC) levels greater than 200 mg/dl. One percent had severe and 11% had borderline hypertension. Also, 21% were overweight, and 27% of the adolescents greater than or equal to 15 years admitted to smoking regularly. In this paper we concentrate on cholesterol findings of this study, i.e., the dependence of TC on sex, age, weight, and the use of oral contraceptives. There was an age dependency in both sexes. In boys the lowest TC levels were found in the 12-17-year-olds, whereas the group under 10 had the highest ones. In the age group over 17, TC was higher than in the younger groups. The age dependency of the TC levels in girls was similar, but less pronounced. The minimum level was reached earlier, namely in the group 14-15 years old, rather than in the group 16-17. TC levels of girls compared to boys were significantly higher in the 12-13 and 16-17 age groups. Girls who use oral contraceptives had significantly higher TC levels. Obesity had no influence on TC. Our results support the demand for screening for cardiovascular risk factors in children.