Objective: To analyze the influence of family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) on lipoprotein (a) (Lpa) values in obese children.
Subjects and methods: Lpa values were measured by a nephelometric technique in 837 prepubertal obese children (442 girls, 395 boys) aged 6-8 years. Lpa > 30 mg/dl were determined to be a risk factor for CVD after complete recording of dietary norms, family history of CVD and coronary risk in relatives aged less than 50 years old.
Results: The obese children's group with BMI > 30 and with family history of CVD presented higher values of Lpa (32.07 +/- 1.2 mg/dl) in comparison to the less obese group with family history of CVD (27.19 +/- 0.8 mg/dl) (p < 0.01), and both of these groups had significantly higher Lpa values than the groups with no family history of CVD.
Conclusions: Childhood obesity with high BMI increases the risk of CVD when these children become adults in children with family risk factors for CVD.