[Prevalence of Hypertriglyceridemia: New Data Across the Russian Population. The PROMETHEUS Study]

The main purpose of the study was to estimate prevalence of subjects with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) in Russia. Secondary objectives were to explore HTG prevalence by levels, age and sex, and to assess correlation between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and triglyceride (TG) level. Additionally, we analyzed geographical differences in HTG prevalence in regions of Russia.

This was a cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study using database of results of lipid profile determination in 357,072 subjects from 254 Russian cities during the 3-year period from 2011 to 2013.

Altogether, 29.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 29.1-29.4%) of Russian individuals had HTG (serum TG more or equal 1.7 mmol/L). The percentage of patients with very high (TG more or equal 5.6 mmol/L) and severe HTG (TG more or equal 10.0mmol/L) was low (0.01% and 0.011%, respectively). At the same time, the portion of subjects with mixed hyperlipidemia (total cholesterol [TC] more or equal 5.2mmol/L, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] more or equal 3.4 mmol/L, TG more or equal 1.7 mmol/L) was 19% of the study population. Men had 1.25 (95% CI, 1.24-1.26) times higher risk of HTG than women. Prevalence of HTG increased with age: in women TG level was maximal in the age group 60-69 years (34%), whereas in men TG level was maximal in the age group 40-49 years (43%). Prevalence of HTG increased from 2011 to 2013 from 28 to 30% (p<0.0001). Risk of HTG was 1.69 times greater when high HbA1C more or equal 6.5% was present, and vice versa, risk of HbA1C more or equal 6.5% was 2.04 times higher in individuals with HTG. Distribution of HTG and dyslipidemia by regions of Russia had large variability being higher in the south and lower in the northern regions of European part of Russia.

Almost a third of Russian population has HTG. Men have higher risk of HTG than women. Prevalence of HTG increases with age and reaches its peak in age groups 60-69 years in (women) and 40-49 years (men). There is a linear association between high HbA- and high level of TG. Prevalence of HTG and dyslipidemia is heterogeneous in Russian regions.