COMMUNITY-BASED EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY ON ATHEROSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULARRISK-FACTORS

The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of hyperl ipidemia and to find out the possible impact of serum lipid profiles o n other cardiovascular risk factors in Yonchon County, Korea. Populati on-based cross-sectional study by random cluster sampling of registere d residents over 30 years of age was performed. Out of the 3804 subjec ts scheduled for the survey, 2520 underwent the actual examination. Th e prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (serum cholesterol greater than o r equal to 240 mg/dl) was only 1.2%, whereas that of hypertriglyceride mia (serum triglyceride greater than or equal to 250 mg/dl) was as hig h as 11.3%. The serum levels of cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL chol esterol correlated with anthropometric indices, body mass indices and waist hip ratios. The prevalences of diabetes and/or hypertension incr eased as either serum cholesterol or triglyceride level increased. In addition, the prevalence rates of obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia in its isolated form (f ree of the others) were much lower than overall prevalence indicating an existence of major overlap among these cardiovascular atherosclerot ic risk factors in the form of multiple combinations. Central obesity was found to be an independent associated factor for the aggregation o f the conditions related to the increase in cardiovascular risks. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in Yonchon County was substantially lower than that previously suggested, albeit that of hypertriglycerid emia was very high. We could also observe a varying degree of transiti on in cardiovascular risks related to insulin resistance from the rura l to the urban area with rapid emergence of non-communicable diseases as a result of modernization.