SERUM-CHOLESTEROL LEVEL IN A TYPICAL SUBURBAN COMMERCIAL COMMUNITY INNIGERIA

Forty-one apparently healthy businessmen and -women and an equal numbe r of government workers matched for age and sex underwent serum choles terol determinations. The mean serum cholesterol levels of businessmen and -women were significantly higher than those of their government w orker counterparts (p <0.001). The marked increase in the serum choles terol of the business subjects was attributed to their overindulgence and/or eating habits and lack of physical activity. The cardiovascular risk implications of the high cholesterol value and other risk co-fac tors such as obesity and alcoholism observed among the business subjec ts are highlighted. We advise that for communities similar to the one described here, public enlightenment programmes about the health benef its of periodic medical assessment and recreational physical activitie s are necessary. A further comprehensive study of lipid, lipoprotein a nd other risk factors in these subjects should be encouraged.