Factors Affecting Dyslipidemia among Korean Adolescents: An Analysis Using the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2021)

A high prevalence of dyslipidemia has recently been shown not only in adults, but also in adolescents. When occurring in adolescence, dyslipidemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in adulthood. This study aimed to identify significant factors affecting dyslipidemia in South Korean adolescents. We used data from the third year of the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VIII-3) on 381 Korean adolescents aged 12-18 years. The data were analyzed using frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, the Rao-Scott chi test, the t-test, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression using complex sample analysis. On a weighted population basis, 28.1% of the adolescents among the participants were identified as the group with dyslipidemia. Obesity, waist circumference, serum uric acid, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly related to the prevalence of dyslipidemia. Physical activity 4-7 days a week was related to a decrease in the prevalence of dyslipidemia only in male adolescents. The results of this study can be used as evidence for the risk assessment of adolescent dyslipidemia and the establishment of systematic health management guidelines according to risk factors for the prevention of adolescent dyslipidemia.