Lipoprotein(a) identifies cardiovascular risk in childhood: The Australian Aboriginal Birth Cohort Study

Aim: To describe the lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a) )profile and its relationship to cardiovascular risk factors in Australian Aboriginal children. Methods: A cross‐sectional study within a longitudinal birth cohort study in the Darwin Health Region (Northern Territory, Australia). Subjects were Aboriginal children born between 1987 and 1990 who were re‐examined between 1998 and 2001. Outcome measures were cholesterol, triglycerides, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, apoB, apoA1, apoA1/B ratio, anthropometric measures, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, maternal smoking and nutrition. Results: At a mean age of 11.4 years, results showed that high concentrations of Lp(a) were significantly related to well‐known lipid‐based CVD risk factors for both boys and girls, and that only one anthropometric factor, height, was significant for girls. Non‐genetic factors and maternal smoking were not found to be significant contributors to Lp(a) concentrations. Conclusions: Lp(a) should be considered as a more effective marker of CVD than anthropometric measures, and children from families with a history of premature CVD should be regularly screened for this factor.