Relationship between Dyslipidemia, Cultural Factors, and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Schoolchildren

The presence of dyslipidemia and behavioral aspects are determinants of cardiovascular risk, especially in childhood and adolescence.

Alterations in lipid parameters are associated with cultural factors, especially those related to sedentary lifestyle and low levels of CRF.

This cross-sectional study evaluated a sample of 1,254 children and adolescents between the ages of 7 and 17 from the South of Brazil, 686 of whom were female. Dyslipidemia was defined as increased levels of at least one of the following lipid profile parameters: triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and fractions of high (HDL-c) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c). Cultural aspects were evaluated by a self-reported questionnaire. Data were analyzed by logistic regression, considering the odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) at 95%.

To verify possible relationships between dyslipidemia, cultural factors, and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in schoolchildren.

The results revealed a high prevalence of dyslipidemia (41.9%), which was associated with female sex (OR: 1.56; IC: 1.24-1.96) and overweight/obese status (OR: 1.55; IC: 1.20-2.00). When lipid profile parameters were evaluated separately, high levels of LDL-c were observed to be associated with sedentary school transport (OR: 1.59; IC: 1.20-2.09). Schoolchildren who were overweight/obese had higher chances of elevated levels of TC (OR: 1.40; IC: 1.07-1.84) and TG (OR: 3.21; IC: 1.96-5.26). HDL-c was shown to be related to high television time (OR: 1.59; IC: 1.00-2.54).