Elsevier

Preventive Medicine

Volume 25, Issue 3, May 1996, Pages 355-364
Preventive Medicine

Regular Article
Factors Influencing Tracking of Cholesterol and High-Density Lipoprotein: The Amsterdam Growth and Health Study

https://doi.org/10.1006/pmed.1996.0066Get rights and content

Abstract

Background.Tracking analysis of serum cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and the TC/HDL-C ratio was carried out by a new method based on generalized estimating equations (GEE).

Methods.Longitudinal data were derived from the Amsterdam Growth and Health Study, in which 181 subjects were measured six times from the age of 13 years to the age of 27 years.

Results.Tracking coefficients (interpretable as coefficients of stability over time) calculated over a 15-year period with GEE for TC were 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60–0.74]; for HDL-C, males, 0.51 (95% CI 0.34–0.69); for HDL-C, females, 0.65 (95% CI 0.53–0.77); and for the TC/HDL-C ratio 0.71 (95% CI 0.63–0.79). The changes in TC were positively influenced by both body fatness (standardized regression coefficient β = 0.13; 95% CI 0.04–0.21) and daily physical activity (β = 0.08; 95% CI 0.00–0.16), and the changes in the TC/HDL-C ratio were positively influenced by body fatness (β = 0.11; 95% 0.03–0.19).

Conclusions.GEE tracking coefficients for TC and for the TC/HDL-C ratio were higher than the coefficients for HDL-C. Furthermore, multivariate analyses showed a positive influence of body fatness and daily physical activity measured at 13 years of age on the changes in TC over time. No relations were found between any of the biological, psychological, or lifestyle parameters and the changes in HDL-C, while the changes in the TC/HDL-C ratio were positively related to body fatness measured at 13 years of age.

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This study was granted by the Dutch Heart Foundation (Grants 76051-79051 and 90-312) and the Dutch Minister of Welfare, Public Health and Cultural Affairs (Grants 28-189a, 28-1106, and 28-1106-1). Address reprint requests to Dr. Twisk. Fax: +31 20 444 8509.

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