Lipid profile of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and atherosclerotic process begins in childhood. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate lipid profile of patients with T1DM accompanied at the pediatric endocrinology (UEP), Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Paraná (HC-UFPR), the prevalence of dyslipidemia and its correlation with glycemic control, duration of T1DM, family history of dyslipidemia and nutritional profile status. METHODS: Data of diagnostic information, comorbidities, birth weight, sex, family history of diabetes, dyslipidemia and heart diseases were reviewed. Anthropometric measurements, glycemic control, blood pressure (BP), lipid profile, and pharmacological treatment for dyslipidemia were obtained in four moments: after three months of diagnosis (t1), two (t2), five (t3), and ten (t4) years of illness. RESULTS: 228 patients (122 girls), mean age at diagnosis of 7.3 years, were included. In t3 and t4 there was a significant increase in BP elevation. Prevalence of dyslipidemia was 31.7% in t1, 33.7% in t2; 37.4% in t3; and in 63.6% in t4. There was a significant increase in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol level over time (p<0.001) and a significant increase in triglycerides levels only in t4 (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Changes in lipid profile in children and adolescents with T1DM are prevalent, but they are undertreated, and the greater age, the greater probability of developing dyslipidemia. Thus, screening for dyslipidemia should be done and pharmacological treatment should be encouraged as recommended.