CHOLESTEROL LEVELS AND PREVALENCE OF HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA IN MEXICAN CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS

In Mexico, the incidence and prevalence of coronary heart disease has increased over the past three decades and has become the leading cause of death in some areas of the country. Hypercholesterolemia (HC) is a major risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis and most developed cou ntries currently have public health strategies that attempt to reduce the level of cholesterol. In order to learn the mean total cholesterol values and the prevalence of HC, an epidemiologic survey was carried out in a representative population sample that included men and women aged 1 to 98 years, across the nation. In this report, we present the findings in children and teenagers of both sexes (n 34369). Considerin g the country as a whole, the mean serum TC was 147 +/- 35 mg/dl, the prevalence of borderline hypercholesterolemia (TC between 170 and 199 mg/dl) was 14.7% and the prevalence of high risk hypercholesterolemia (TC greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl) was 6.7%. This cross sectional study demonstrated the existence of significant geographic difference s in serum TC, with mean state values ranging from 133 mg/dl in the so uth to 164 mg/dl in the north. The prevalences of high risk hyperchole sterolemia was as high as 18.2% in Baja California Norte and as low as 2.5% in the state of Morelos. These geographic differences in total c horesterol and prevalence of hypercholesterolemia were already present at one year of age and persisted throughout childhood and adolescence .