Lipoprotein(a) and cardiovascular risk factors in a cohort of 6-year-old children. The Rivas-Vaciamadrid Study

Abstract

We have studied the distribution of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) and its relation to lipid profiles and a family history of cardiovascular disease in grandparents in a cohort of 673 6-year-old Spanish children. Lp(a) levels were highly skewed, showed no differences between sexes and had no relevant relations with anthropometric variables. When compared with children without a family history of stroke, children with a family history of this disorder showed significantly higher levels of Lp(a) (median 13 mg/dl, range 2-110 mg/dl versus 9 mg/dl, range 2-120 mg/dl, P=0.02). Also the percentage of children with a family history of stroke was higher in the group of children with Lp(a) levels above 30 mg/dl than in the group who exhibited lower levels (20.9% versus 10.4%, P=0.002). Children with a family history of coronary heart disease had higher levels of Lp(a) than children without such history (median 14 mg/dl, range 2-120 mg/dl versus 8 mg/dl, range 2-62 mg/dl, P=0.03). Finally, when compared with children with Lp(a) levels <30 mg/dl, those with Lp(a) levels above 30 mg/dl showed significantly higher mean levels of total cholesterol (174.9 versus 169.4 mg/dl, P<0.05), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (109.1 versus 102.4 mg/dl, P<0.05), and apolipoprotein B (81.9 versus 74.6 mg/dl, P<0.05).

Conclusion: Our study shows the existence of an association between high levels of lipoprotein (a) in 6 year-old children and a family history of both cerebrovascular and coronary disease in grandparents. High levels of lipoprotein (a) were also associated with high levels of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B.