BACKGROUND: the lipid factor is currently considered to be the main agent responsible for cardiovascular risk in young individuals. This is already present during infancy in proportions that give rise to concern, and is growing, as has would seem to have been shown by several national studies. This study analyses the prevalence of hyperlipidemia in children within the province of Caceres according to several different criteria, and describes changes according to age groups and sex, comparing the overall results with those of other national studies. METHODS: a cross - sectional descriptive study of a representative and proportional sample of 2,150 children aged 2 to 6 years old in the province of Caceres (N = 91,083). The following were determined: total cholesterol, fractions, apolipoproteins and risk coefficients (enzymatic technique). RESULTS: 27.9% of children presented total cholesterol values of >200 mg/dl; 7.5% of females and 4.7% of males had figures of more than 230 mg/dl. Levels of C-LDL > 130 mg/dl appear in 26.4%, Apo-B >75 mg/dl in 65.5% and C-NO-HDL > 165 in 8.4%. C-HDL- <35 mg/dl was found in 3.3% of individuals, while Apo-A < 100 mg/dl was only found in 0.3%. The ratios between CT/HDL > 3.5 and LDL/HDL > 2.2 were found to be 36..1% and 39.8%, respectively. The prevalence of hyperlipidemia is higher in females and pre-puberty stages. CONCLUSIONS: overall, and independently of the criteria used, the proportion of cases of hyperlipidemia is high, and is above the levels cited in other Spanish studies. The prevalence of hyperlipidemia is highest in females before puberty, who display the most discriminatory risk coefficients, and best identify the change in the lipid profile at puberty.

FUNDAMENTO: Actualmente se considera al factor lipídico como el principal responsable del riesgo cardiovascular del individuo joven, factor ya presente en la infancia en proporciones preocupantes y crecientes como parecen mostrar diversos estudios nacionales. En el presente trabajo se analiza la prevalencia de hiperlipidemia en niños de la provincia de Cáceres según diversos criterios, describiendo los cambios según grupos de edad y sexo, y comparando los resultados globales con otros estudios autóctonos. MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo transversal de una muestra representativa y proporcional de 2.150 niños (2 a 16 años) de la provincia de Cáceres (N=91.083). Se determina: colesterol total, fracciones, apolipoproteinas y cocientes de riesgo (técnica enzimática). RESULTADOS: El 27.9% de los niños presenta valores de colesterol total >200 mg/dl.; 7.5% de las mujeres y 4.7% de los varones muestran cifras superiores a 230 mg/dl. Niveles de C-LDL>130 mg/dl. aparecen en un 26.4%, de Apo-B>75 mg/dl en el 65.5% y de C-NO-HDL>165 en el 8.4%. Un C-HDL<35 mg/dl. se encontró en 3.3% de los individuos mientras que la Apo-A<100 mg/dl. sólo apareció en el 0.3%. Las relaciones CT/HDL>3.5 y LDL/HDL>2.2 se mostraron en el 36.1% y en el 39.8% respectivamente. La prevalencia de hiperlipidemia es superior en mujeres y etapas prepuberales. CONCLUSIONES: De forma global, e independientemente del criterio utilizado, la proporción de casos de hiperlipidemia es elevada y superior a la referida en otros estudios españoles. La prevalencia de hiperlipidemia es mayor en mujeres prepuberales, mostrándose los cocientes de riesgo mas discriminativos e identificando mejor el cambio del perfil lipídico puberal.

BACKGROUND: the lipid factor is currently considered to be the main agent responsible for cardiovascular risk in young individuals. This is already present during infancy in proportions that give rise to concern, and is growing, as has would seem to have been shown by several national studies. This study analyses the prevalence of hyperlipidemia in children within the province of Caceres according to several different criteria, and describes changes according to age groups and sex, comparing the overall results with those of other national studies. METHODS: a cross - sectional descriptive study of a representative and proportional sample of 2,150 children aged 2 to 6 years old in the province of Caceres (N = 91,083). The following were determined: total cholesterol, fractions, apolipoproteins and risk coefficients (enzymatic technique). RESULTS: 27.9% of children presented total cholesterol values of >200 mg/dl; 7.5% of females and 4.7% of males had figures of more than 230 mg/dl. Levels of C-LDL > 130 mg/dl appear in 26.4%, Apo-B >75 mg/dl in 65.5% and C-NO-HDL > 165 in 8.4%. C-HDL- <35 mg/dl was found in 3.3% of individuals, while Apo-A < 100 mg/dl was only found in 0.3%. The ratios between CT/HDL > 3.5 and LDL/HDL > 2.2 were found to be 36..1% and 39.8%, respectively. The prevalence of hyperlipidemia is higher in females and pre-puberty stages. CONCLUSIONS: overall, and independently of the criteria used, the proportion of cases of hyperlipidemia is high, and is above the levels cited in other Spanish studies. The prevalence of hyperlipidemia is highest in females before puberty, who display the most discriminatory risk coefficients, and best identify the change in the lipid profile at puberty.

FUNDAMENTO: Actualmente se considera al factor lipídico como el principal responsable del riesgo cardiovascular del individuo joven, factor ya presente en la infancia en proporciones preocupantes y crecientes como parecen mostrar diversos estudios nacionales. En el presente trabajo se analiza la prevalencia de hiperlipidemia en niños de la provincia de Cáceres según diversos criterios, describiendo los cambios según grupos de edad y sexo, y comparando los resultados globales con otros estudios autóctonos. MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo transversal de una muestra representativa y proporcional de 2.150 niños (2 a 16 años) de la provincia de Cáceres (N=91.083). Se determina: colesterol total, fracciones, apolipoproteinas y cocientes de riesgo (técnica enzimática). RESULTADOS: El 27.9% de los niños presenta valores de colesterol total >200 mg/dl.; 7.5% de las mujeres y 4.7% de los varones muestran cifras superiores a 230 mg/dl. Niveles de C-LDL>130 mg/dl. aparecen en un 26.4%, de Apo-B>75 mg/dl en el 65.5% y de C-NO-HDL>165 en el 8.4%. Un C-HDL<35 mg/dl. se encontró en 3.3% de los individuos mientras que la Apo-A<100 mg/dl. sólo apareció en el 0.3%. Las relaciones CT/HDL>3.5 y LDL/HDL>2.2 se mostraron en el 36.1% y en el 39.8% respectivamente. La prevalencia de hiperlipidemia es superior en mujeres y etapas prepuberales. CONCLUSIONES: De forma global, e independientemente del criterio utilizado, la proporción de casos de hiperlipidemia es elevada y superior a la referida en otros estudios españoles. La prevalencia de hiperlipidemia es mayor en mujeres prepuberales, mostrándose los cocientes de riesgo mas discriminativos e identificando mejor el cambio del perfil lipídico puberal.