SERUM-LIPID PROFILE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SOME CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS IN AN URBAN CHINESE POPULATION

The lipid profile of a Chinese population, which has a lower prevalenc e of coronary heart disease compared with Caucasians, is studied to de termine whether lipid-modifying disease prevention programs are necess ary. The study population consisted of 910 men (mean age 36.7 +/- 9.2 yrs) and 603 women (mean age 38.6 +/- 9.1 yrs), who were employees of a public utility company and non-medical staff of a district hospital. Indices of obesity, fasting cholesterol (TC), and its various subfrac tion, triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I), and apolipopro tein B (Apo B) concentrations were measured. Glucose tolerance was als o estimated by measuring fasting and 2 h glucose after a 75 g oral glu cose load. The lipid profile was similar to that of the North American population, with an overall prevalence of low density lipoprotein cho lesterol (LDL-C) greater-than-or-equal-to 4.1 mmol/L of 21% and 11% in men and women respectively. Similar variations with age, sex, smoking and glucose tolerance compared with Caucasian populations were observ ed. The high prevalence of subjects with ''undesirable'' lipid values in this Chinese population, which at present has a coronary artery dis ease prevalence of one-eighth to one-quarter compared with that in Cau casians, suggests that the incidence of the disease may well rise in t he future to pose a similar problem to that in Caucasian populations. Cut off values of lipids conferring increased cardiovascular risks nee d to be determined in this population, so that public health strategie s may be formulated.