Blood lipids and lipoproteins in a rural New Zealand population

Plasma cholesterol and triglycerides have been measured in 1202 residents of Milton, a rural town in New Zealand. Cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in the serum lipoprotein classes of a random subgroup of the population are also reported. Mean plasma triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were higher for men, but mean high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration was higher in women. Urban-rural differences in plasma cholesterol are suggested since mean plasma cholesterol concentration in men reached a maximum in the 50-59 decade in the rural town (Milton) but the maximum for a nearby urban community was in the 40-49 decade. An evaluation of hyperlipidaemia by using arbitrary cut-off values for plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations showed a prevalence of hypertriglyceridaemia in men, resulting in approximately three times as many men as women in some of the categories of hyperlipidaemia. Further, 26% of the 35-59 age group in the population had lipid risk factors for coronary heart disease.