Dyslipidemia among healthy postmenopausal Thai women

A prospective analysis was conducted to assess the prevalence of dyslipidemia among 80 healthy postmenopausal Thai women who were not more than five years after menopause. Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were measured using enzymatic procedures. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration was estimated by Friedewald formula. The results showed that 91.25 per cent, 10.00 per cent, 38.75 per cent and 48.75 per cent of the studied population had total cholesterol > or = 200 mg/dl, triglycerides > or = 150 mg/dl, HDL < 50 mg/dl, and LDL > or = 190 mg/dl respectively. Of all the women, 77.50 per cent and 10.00 per cent had total cholesterol / HDL ratio of > or = 4 and had triglyceride levels of > or = 150 mg/dl with HDL < 50 mg/dl, respectively. This unexpected high prevalence of dyslipidemia in this healthy postmenopausal group should be taken into account in considering health promotion strategies for postmenopausal Thai women particularly those in the high risk group.