ABC | Volume 112, Nº2, February 2019

Original Article Dyslipidemia in Adolescents Seen in a University Hospital in the city of Rio de Janeiro/Brazil: Prevalence and Association Nathalia Pereira Vizentin, 1 Paula Mendonça Santos Cardoso, 1 Camila Aparecida Gomes Maia, 1 Isabela Perez Alves, 1 Gabriel Lunardi Aranha, 2 Denise Tavares Giannini 1 Núcleo de Estudos da Saúde do Adolescente do Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, 1 Rio de Janeiro, RJ – Brazil Hospital Maternidade Therezinha de Jesus da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas e da Saúde de Juiz de Fora, 2 Juiz de Fora, MG – Brazil Mailing Address: Nathalia Pereira Vizentin • Estrada do Cabuçu, 4601; casa 60. Postal Code 23017-250, Campo Grande, Rio de Janeiro, RJ – Brazil E-mail: nathalia.nut@hotmail.com , gabriell.aranha@gmail.com Manuscript received March 24, 2018, revised manuscript July 18, 2018, accepted September 05, 2018 DOI: 10.5935/abc.20180254 Abstract Background: Early exposure to obesity favors greater risks of cardiovascular factors such as dyslipidemia. Objectives: To establish the prevalence of dyslipidemia, and to evaluate its association with nutritional status of the adolescents attended at the ambulatory of the Adolescent Health Studies Center of the University Hospital Pedro Ernesto. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, observational study, the sample of which was of convenience, consisting of adolescents from 12 to 18 years old of both genders. The lipid profile was evaluated, along with its association with the anthropometric indicators: body mass index and waist circumference. For statistical analysis, a significance level of 5% was used. Results: A total of 239 adolescents, 104 boys (43.5%) and 135 girls (56.5%) were evaluated and, of these, 52 (21.8%) were eutrophic, 60 (25.1%) overweight, and 127 (53.1%) obese. Obeseadolescents had significantly lower mean values of HDL-cholesterol (44.7 mg/dl vs 53.9 mg/dl; p < 0.001) and higher triglycerides (109.6 mg/dl vs 87.3 mg/dl; p = 0.01). The changes with higher prevalence were low HDL‑cholesterol (50.6%), hypercholesterolemia (35.1%), and hypertriglyceridemia (18.4%). A negative association of HDL-cholesterol with body mass index and a positive association of triglycerides with body mass index could be observed, even after adjustment for gender and skin color. Conclusion: This study demonstrated high prevalence of dyslipidemia among adolescents. In view of the significant association between lower levels of HDL-cholesterol and increased triglycerides with overweight, the control of these factors should receive attention, with the precocious diagnosis of the dyslipidemia being important, mainly if it is associated with another cardiovascular risk, to develop effective intervention strategies. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2019; 112(2):147-151) Keywords: Hyperlipidemias; Adolescent; Obesity; Sedentary Lifestyle; Anthropometry; Cardiovascular Diseases; Risk Factors. Introduction Adolescence is a period of intense modification that takes place between childhood and adulthood, and is highlighted by explicit development, growth and body changes. During adolescence there is a physiological increase of the tissues, including adipose tissue, especially in girls, being a critical period to initiate or exacerbate obesity. 1-3 In the current scenario, low consumption of fruit and vegetables and high consumption of processed food, 3,4 along with excessive use of electronic devices and low frequency of regular practice of physical activities were observed among adolescents. It is also observed that the omission of meals and the intake of fast food are also common habits in this age group. Such conditions favor weight gain and risk factors for chronic diseases. 2-6 Data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) show a clear increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents in the last 34 years in Brazil, from 1974‑1975 to 2008-2009, from3.7% to 21.7% in boys and 7.6% to 19.4% in girls. 7 This situation is a concern because obesity is a considerable risk factor for chronic non-communicable diseases, being highlighted among dyslipidemias, which is even more pronounced when associated with a sedentary lifestyle. 8 Early exposure to obesity favors a higher cardiovascular risk not only in childhood and adolescence, but also a high incidence of premature mortality in adults who were obese in these phases of life. 9,10 Overweight in childhood and adolescence is considered a more powerful predictor of these risks than overweight in adulthood. 9-11 Dyslipidemia is understood as changes in the lipid profile, which may occur by the elevation in total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c), triglycerides (TG), or decrease in HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c), with these being primary (genetic factors) or secondary (environmental factors) causes. 8,12-14 These changes alone and mainly when accompanied of other risk factors may lead to the development of atherosclerosis. 13 The present study aimed to establish the prevalence of dyslipidemia and to evaluate its association with the nutritional status of adolescents seen at the secondary care clinic of 147