The impact of COVID-19 on lipid profiles: Exploring variations in the pediatric population of the Dominican Republic

Abstract

Background and Aims: Lipid profiles of the pediatric population may have undergone significant changes across the pre-pandemic (PRE, 2013–2019), pandemic (2019), and post-pandemic (POST, 2020–2022) periods, particularly in triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels. These shifts are likely associated with physical inactivity and increased caloric intake during the pandemic. Methods: This analysis provides a descriptive assessment of all variables, including the mean, standard deviation, and interquartile range. Subgroup analyses compare PRE and POST data in the Dominican Republic to identify changes in lipid behavior based on age, biological sex, and demographic distribution. Results: The mean age of children was 10.3 ± 5.2 years PRE and 9.8 ± 5.2 years POST (Table 1). Hypertriglyceridemia was the most common lipid abnormality both PRE and during the pandemic, while elevated TC became more prevalent POST (Table 1). Notably, 37.8% of children during the pandemic, compared to 29.6% POST, had elevated TC levels at ages 6-8 years (Table 2). Equivalently, average TG levels for children aged 10-18 improved slightly from 207.0 ± 98.1 mg/dL PRE to 192.2 ± 92.6 mg/dL POST (Table 1). Throughout the study period, all children had high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels below 40 mg/dL (Figures 1 & 2). Sex-based differences in apolipoprotein A1 levels became more pronounced POST, particularly in males (Figures 3 & 4). Conclusions: The pandemic had a significant impact on lipid profiles among children, likely due to a sedentary lifestyle, which contributed to elevated TG levels and reduced HDL-C. These changes were further amplified by dietary shifts, increased stress, and lifestyle disruptions, particularly in urban areas (Figure 5). Lipid profiles may have improved post-pandemic as children reintegrated into social environments, with increased physical activity playing a key role.