TRACKING OF SERUM HDL-CHOLESTEROL AND OTHER LIPIDS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS - THE CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN YOUNG FINNS STUDY

Background. We have studied the tracking (i.e., the correlation between subsequent measurements) of serum lipids in a cohort of 2,236 children and adolescents (ages initially 3-18 years). Methods. Determinations of the serum variables were made 3 and 6 years apart. Six-year tracking values (Spearman's r) were 0.63, 0.66, 0.58, and 0.36 for serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, respectively. Boys were found to track better than girls. Subjects who remained persistently in the highest (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides) or lowest (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein ratio) quintile tended to become obese and smoked cigarettes more frequently than the others. Conclusion. The tracking of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was higher than in previous studies, but differences in methodology may account for this. We conclude that total cholesterol and low-density as well as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol measurements in childhood and adolescence are predictive of adult values. © 1991.