[Lipid profile in adult population representative of a French district (Bas-Rhin)]

Serum total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and A1, A2 and B apoprotein levels were determined in a population of 967 adults aged 25 to 64 years representative of the general population of the Bas-Rhin region localized in North-Eastern France. Age and sex were found to have a significant influence on most parameters studied; however, HDL-cholesterol, Apo A1, and Apo A2 were independent from age in males. HDL-cholesterol levels were consistently found to be higher in females than in males. Cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, Apo A1, Apo A2 and Apo B levels, but not the HDL-cholesterol/cholesterol ratio, were higher in females above 45 years of age. A cholesterol level indicating increased cardiovascular risk, i.e., above 5.1 mmol/l, was found in 55% of males and 53% of females; HDL-cholesterol was under 0.9 mmol/l in 46% of males and 29% of females. The close linear correlations seen between cholesterol and Apo B (r = 0.820) and between HDL-cholesterol and Apo A1 (r = 0.580) were used to estimate theoretical threshold levels of apoproteins indicating increased risk: the Apo B level was greater than 0.77 g/l in 60% of males and 45% of females and the Apo A1 level was smaller than 1.58 g/l in 42% of males and 28% of females. Apo A2 level seems less useful as marker of increased risk. In conclusion, increased vascular risk due to unfavorable lipid profiles was common in the studied population especially among males and among females above 45 years of age. Apoproteins A1 and B reliably reflect cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels and can help evaluate cardiovascular risk.