To elucidate a higher rate of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Asian Indian descendants (Roma) in Slovakia, we investigated frequency distribution, correlates and relationship of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] to family CVD risk factors in Roma children and their Caucasian neighbors. The study sample consisted of 607 healthy children aged 7-18 years (55% Roma, 48% male) as part of the biracial (Roma-Caucasian) Slovak Lipid Community Study. Overall, frequency distribution data of Lp(a) were highly skewed to low concentrations, with markedly higher Lp(a) levels in Roma than in Caucasian children (median and range, mg/dL: 14.5; 0-159.2 vs 6.2; 0-112.3, P \ 0.001), regardless of age and gender. Lp(a) was positively correlated with apo B (0.159, P = 0.004) in Roma, and LDL cholesterol (0.170, P = 0.005) in Caucasian children. In addition, daily income of the family was negatively related with Lp(a) in Roma (-0.134, P = 0.036) while positively in Caucasians (0.136, P = 0.047). For both race groups, no significant association was found between Lp(a) and age, body mass index, mean arterial pressure, smoking, and physical activity. Also, no significant relationships were examined between serum Lp(a) levels [30 mg/dL in children and family CVD risk factors, except for diabetes mellitus in parents of Caucasian origin (OR 4.46;. In a multivariate analysis, daily income, LDL cholesterol or apo B explained *7% of the variance of Lp(a). This study suggests a significantly higher serum Lp(a) levels in Roma than in Caucasian children and a small effect, in general, of relevant CVD risk factors on the variation of Lp(a) levels in childhood.

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Objectives: To create age-and sex-specific growth curves for serum lipids in Slovak children and adolescents, and to compare age-and sex-specific cut-off points with the currently recommended procedure using a single set of risk values for the whole child and adolescent population. Methods: Data were extracted from a cross-sectional Slovak Lipid Community Study conducted in 2005-2007; 873 healthy children and adolescents aged 7 -18 years were selected for this study. Smoothed percentile curves were generated by LMS Pro software. Results: All lipid parameters (except for total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in girls) were higher in puberty than in adolescence, with the lowest serum lipids between the ages of 15 and 16 years. Mean triglyceride levels were higher in girls than in boys in all age groups. At the age of 18 years, about 19% boys and 25% girls had borderline and 6% boys and 15% girls had elevated total cholesterol. Elevated triglyceride levels were seen in 13% of boys and 11% of girls while abnormally low levels of HDL-cholesterol were found in 17% of boys and 10% of girls. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that 1) age and gender play a strong role in lipid measurements in children and adolescents, 2) Slovak children and adolescents have a relative high proportion of abnormal lipid levels, and 3) age-and sex-specific cut-off points for serum lipids could be used to identify children and adolescents with an elevated risk of dyslipidemia in adulthood.

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