[The effect of high total cholesterol on life expectancy in 2013 in China]

Objective: To estimate the effect of high total cholesterol (TC) on life expectancy in China. Methods: Population attributable fractions (PAF) of high TC were calculated in both urban, rural areas and regions, using data related to TC levels from the chronic disease risk factor surveillance in China, 2013. Together with PAFs, data related to death registry, demographics, attributable deaths from high TC and its effect on life expectancy, were estimated. Results: In 2013, the TC level in Chinese population aged 25 and above appeared as (4.8±1.0) mmol/L, higher in urban areas[(4.8±1.0) mmol/L]than that in rural areas[(4.7±1.0) mmol/L)], with the highest in eastern regions[(4.9±1.0) mmol/L] and lowest in the central regions [(4.6±1.0) mmol/L]. TC level appeared as (4.8±1.0) mmol/L in both sexes. A total of 2.9% of all the deaths were attributed to high TC (264 998 deaths), among which 89.3% were caused by ischemic heart disease (236 540 deaths). PAF was seen higher in females (3.7%) than that in males (2.3%), higher in urban (3.4%) than that in rural areas (2.4%), with the highest in eastern (3.7%) and lowest in western regions (2.1%). Mortality that attributed to high TC was 19.6/100 000, higher in females (21.2/100 000) than that in males (18.0/100 000), higher in urban(20.8/100 000) than that in rural areas (18.2/100 000), with the highest in eastern (23.2/100 000) and lowest in western regions (15.6/100 000). In 2013, the loss of life expectancy that caused by high TC was 0.30 year, higher in females (0.35 year) than in males (0.26 year), higher in urban (0.34 year) than that in rural areas (0.28 year), with the highest seen in the eastern (0.36 year) and lowest (0.23 year) in the western regions. Conclusion: In 2013, the effect of high TC on life expectancy appeared different between genders, urban and rural areas or regions, with greater impact on females, urban and eastern areas of the country.