[Changes of lipid profile in elderly people in light of longitudinal studies]

The purpose of the study was a retrospective assessment of the health state, dietary habits and nutritional status of elderly men and women. Particular attention was paid to changes in lipid profile of the elderly over 5 years of life in a big urban agglomeration. The first study was carried out in 1992 in a population sample of 154 people aged 70 years (73 men and 84 women). After five years the study was repeated in the same sample. In 1997 for the studies 103 persons came (43 men, 60 women). In the 5-year period 13 persons died. The study showed that over that time period the total cholesterol level, HDL and LDL cholesterol decreased. In the same time period there was a decrease in the consumption of fats and cholesterol in the diet. The fall of HDL cholesterol level caused an increase of the atherogenicity index in these people increasing thus the likelihood of ischaemic heart disease development in this group.