Establishment of serum lipid profile and electrolytes reference intervals for apparently healthy children and adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2020-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Reliable and accurate reference intervals for laboratory analyses are an integral part
of correct interpretation of clinical laboratory test results. In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, there were no
reference intervals established on lipid profile and electrolytes which are essential in the
assessment of early dyslipidemia and electrolyte abnormalities.
Objective: To establish reference intervals on serum lipid profile and electrolytes for apparently
healthy children and adolescents from April to October 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: Community based cross sectional study was conducted from April to October 2019. A
total of 522 participants aged 5-17 years were recruited from communities. After physical
examination, socio-demographic, anthropometric data and blood samples were collected. Serum
levels of lipid profile and electrolytes were determined using Cobas c501. In accordance with
Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines reference intervals for four lipid profile and
six electrolytes were established by calculating 2.5
th
and 97.5
th
limits with 90% confidence interval
using SPSS version 23.
Results: In children, the reference intervals for serum potassium, sodium, chloride, calcium,
magnesium and phosphate in mmol/L were 4.37-5.2, 137-145.5, 101.9-107.9, 2.34-2.7, 0.74-0.97,
and 1.42-1.85 and for total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and high density
lipoprotein the respective values were 100.76-171.7, 44.16-126.36, 60.6-105.6 and 31.6-53.7 in
mg/dl, for both sexes. For adolescents 4.03-5.58, 137-146, 98.9-120.9, 2.39-2.7, 0.73-0.96, 0.961.8
for
serum
potassium,
sodium,
chloride,
calcium,
magnesium,
phosphate
in
mmol/L
and
97.2189.1,
40.5-143.6,
41.7-120.9
and
21.3-57
in
mg/dl
for
total
cholesterol,
triglycerides,
low
density
lipoprotein
and high
density
lipoprotein,
respectively,
for
both sexes.
Conclusion: The obtained reference intervals by the current study revealed that both lower and
upper limits were in disagreement with the manufacture as well as published literatures. The study
also observed significant differences in the reference values between genders for all analytes
except sodium, calcium and magnesium at the adolescents. Therefore, it is important to use the
current reference intervals.
Description
Keywords
Reference intervals, lipid profile, electrolyte, children and adolescent