UNDIAGNOSED HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA - A SERIOUS HEALTH CHALLENGE - THE MEXICO-CITY DIABETES STUDY

In this report we present the results of a population based survey des igned to characterize the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (HCL: tot al cholesterol greater than or equal to 240 mg/dl) in a low income urb an area of Mexico City (The Mexico City Diabetes Study), In an area of 15,532 inhabitants, 3505 (22.57%) were found to be study eligible (al l 35 - 64 year-old men and non-pregnant women residing in the area per manently), A home interview was obtained in 2813 (80.26%) subjects, A physical exam and oral glucose tolerance test was performed on 2282 (8 1.2% of the individuals that gave the,interview and 65.1% of all study eligibles, 941 men and 1341 women), The crude prevalence of HCL for m en in this group was 123% and for women 125 %. Severe HCL (total chole sterol greater than or equal to 260 mg/dl) was found in 6.6% of men an d 6.5% of women, In the older age group (55 - 64 years) prevalence in women reached 21.1%, Of the individuals with HCL this abnormality was previously diagnosed in only 15.9% of men and in 7.8% of women, Despit e having been diagnosed, the abnormality remained untreated in all cas es, HCL was associated with higher,mean systolic blood pressure (in wo men), higher mean diastolic blood pressure (in men) and higher mean fa sting and 2 h post-glucose load glycemia as well as post-challenge ins ulinemia in both sexes, Mean TG was found high in both groups (with an d without HCL), but in subjects with HCL the values were significantly higher, We conclude that HCL is very common in this population, The m ajority of the cases remained undiagnosed and of the small fraction of subjects that have been diagnosed, virtually none is under medical ca re, It is necessary to design and implement a national program to redu ce the impact of this serious health problem.