Serum lipid profile and its association with some cardiovascular risk factors in an urban Chinese population
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1Department of Community Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Insights
This study found that Chinese adults have lipid profiles similar to North Americans, with a significant prevalence of undesirable lipid levels. This suggests a potential future rise in coronary heart disease risk within this population.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Lipid Metabolism
- Public Health
Background:
- Chinese populations exhibit lower coronary heart disease (CHD) prevalence than Caucasians.
- Understanding the lipid profile is crucial for assessing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the lipid profile of a Chinese population.
- To determine the necessity of lipid-modifying disease prevention programs in this demographic.
- To investigate cardiovascular risk factors in relation to lipid concentrations.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 910 men and 603 women from a Chinese population.
- Measurement of obesity indices, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I), and apolipoprotein B (Apo B).
- Assessment of glucose tolerance via oral glucose load test; analysis of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) prevalence.
Main Results:
- The Chinese population's lipid profile resembles that of North Americans.
- Prevalence of LDL-C ≥ 4.1 mmol/L was 21% in men and 11% in women.
- Observed variations in lipids with age, sex, smoking, and glucose tolerance were similar to Caucasian populations.
Conclusions:
- A high prevalence of "undesirable" lipid values exists in this Chinese population.
- Despite lower current CHD rates, future incidence may increase, mirroring Caucasian populations.
- Establishing population-specific lipid cut-off values for cardiovascular risk is essential for public health strategy development.
Abstract:
The lipid profile of a Chinese population, which has a lower prevalence of coronary heart disease compared with Caucasians, is studied to determine whether lipid-modifying disease prevention programs are necessary. The study population consisted of 910 men (mean age 36.7 +/- 9.2 yrs) and 603 women (mean age 38.6 +/- 9.1 yrs), who were employees of a public utility company and non-medical staff of a district hospital. Indices of obesity, fasting cholesterol (TC), and its various subfraction, triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I), and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) concentrations were measured. Glucose tolerance was also estimated by measuring fasting and 2 h glucose after a 75 g oral glucose load. The lipid profile was similar to that of the North American population, with an overall prevalence of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) > or = 4.1 mmol/L of 21% and 11% in men and women respectively. Similar variations with age, sex, smoking and glucose tolerance compared with Caucasian populations were observed. The high prevalence of subjects with "undesirable" lipid values in this Chinese population, which at present has a coronary artery disease prevalence of one-eighth to one-quarter compared with that in Caucasians, suggests that the incidence of the disease may well rise in the future to pose a similar problem to that in Caucasian populations. Cut off values of lipids conferring increased cardiovascular risks need to be determined in this population, so that public health strategies may be formulated.