POPULATION-BASED EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY ON CHARACTERISTICS OF RISK-FACTORS OF HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA IN SAUDI-ARABIA

Objectives: To study the characteristics of risk factors for hyperchol esterolemia among the Saudi population. Design: Population-based cross -sectional national epidemiological randomized household survey. Subje ct: 4548 Saudi subjects, aged 15 years and above. Sample was represent ative and in accordance with the national population distribution with respect to age, gender, regional and residency, urban vs. rural, popu lation distribution. Measurement: Height and weight with calculation o f body mass index, blood samples were drawn and assayed for glucose an d total cholesterol concentration. Hypercholesterolemia (HC) was defin ed: borderline high HC (5.2-6.2 mmol l(-1)) and high HC (>6.2 mmol l(- 1)). Univariate, multivariate, simple logistic, multiple logistic, odd ratio and chi-square were employed in the statistical analysis. Resul ts: The risk of developing HC increased with age by 2% and 1% for each year increase in age for borderline high HC and high HC. The risk of developing HC was significantly higher among female subjects. There wa s no significant relation between the spectrum of BMI group, underweig ht to obesity, with risk of developing borderline high or high HC. The re was a significant increase in the risk of developing HC among resid ents of urban communities. There was no significant regional variation for risk of borderline high HC, however, there was a significant incr ease in the risk of developing high HC among residents of Central and Eastern regions, compared with other regions. Conclusion: The characte ristics of risk factors for HC among the Saudi population differ in ma ny respects from other populations. Overweight and obesity are not sig nificant risk factors for HC. Rural communities are more at risk of HC than urban communities. The population of the Eastern and Central reg ions were at significantly higher risk of developing HC. The relativel y recent urbanization may account for the low prevalence of HC. It may partially explain the dissociation between obesity and HC. Food habit s, both in quantity and quality in rural communities in genetically pr edisposed homogenous populations may account for the increase in the p revalence of HC in rural communities. There is a need to propagate inf ormation about the potential health hazard of obesity and HC among Sau di communities, at large, and specifically in the Eastern and Central regions. There is a need to study the food patterns of rural communiti es which may explain partially the relative increase in the prevalence of HC in rural communities. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.