• Sulieman N Al-Shehri, Zayed A Saleh, Mohamed M Salama, and Yehia M Hassan.
• Girls School Health Affairs Directorate, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. alshahris@hotmail.com
• Ann Saudi Med. 2004 Jan 1; 24 (1): 686-8.

BackgroundCoronary heart disease (CHD) constitutes one of the main health problems in Saudi Arabia, but little is known on the lipid profile of the juvenile population.MethodsWe measured the prevalence of high-risk levels of serum lipids in 1390 boys and girls, aged 9 or 12 years, in Riyadh city.ResultsHigh-risk levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG) and triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein (TC/HDL) cholesterol ratio were found in 32.7%, 33.1%, 34.1% and 22.0% of the students. The prevalence of high-risk levels of TG increased with age among boys and girls, while the prevalence of high-risk LDL decreased with age in girls. Mean levels of TC, LDL and the TC/HDL ratio were higher among girls than boys in the 9-year-old age group. Mean levels of TG and the TC/HDL ratio were higher among girls than boys in the 12-year-old age group.ConclusionsThe prevalence of high-risk levels of serum lipids ranged from 32.7% to 34.1%. We emphasize the need to assess the prevalence of other CHD risk factors among our students and design a suitable control program.

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