Lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein distributions in an elderly New Zealand population

The aim of this study was to determine the lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein distribution in an ambulant elderly New Zealand population, and to consider the association between these and other variables (including body mass index, diabetes mellitus, and smoking history) with the prevalence of manifest macrovascular disease in a cross-section analysis. The population sample was randomly selected from the age/sex register of a large urban medical centre in Christchurch, New Zealand. A total of 369 subjects (participation rate 69%) aged 65 years and older were screened for manifest macrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, smoking status, height and body weight. Levels of plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, apolipoproteins AI and B, glucose, glycated haemoglobin and fibrinogen were measured. Three way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare continuous variables across age/sex/macrovascular disease groups. Females had significantly higher levels of total and HDL cholesterol, apolipoproteins AI and B than males. Body mass index showed a significant decrease with increasing age. Macrovascular disease was manifest in 24% of males, and in 26% of females. No direct correlation was seen between any of the measured continuous variables and the presence of macrovascular disease, except for fibrinogen (P < 0.05). No significant association was seen between macrovascular disease and smoking status, nor with a diagnosis of diabetes. In females, the frequency of macrovascular disease was significantly higher amongst those with low (< 1.00 mmol/L) levels of HDL.