High density lipoprotein cholesterol increases with living altitude

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Environmental Medicine
• Biochemistry

Background:

• The link between serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and living altitude remains debated.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for accurate cardiovascular risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between living altitude and HDL serum levels in an adult population.
• To identify other lifestyle and demographic factors influencing HDL levels.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 594 adults (30-64 years) on the Island of El Hierro, Spain.
• Data collected on HDL, living altitude, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, menopause, physical activity, and diet.
• Regression analysis used to determine the persistence of the HDL-altitude association.

Main Results:

• HDL levels positively correlated with living altitude (r = 0.14, P < 0.01) and negatively with BMI (r = -0.19, P < 0.01).
• Smokers had lower HDL; moderate alcohol consumption in men was linked to higher HDL.
• Physical activity showed a relationship with HDL in men, but diabetes and menopause did not demonstrate significant associations.

Conclusions:

• Serum HDL cholesterol levels increase linearly with higher living altitudes.
• This altitude-dependent increase in HDL should be considered when comparing cardiovascular risk between populations at different altitudes.