BLOOD LIPID CONCENTRATIONS AND OTHER CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS AMONG SAUDIS

A study of 1005 family practice attenders at King Fahad National Guard Hospital was conducted during February 1993 to determine the prevalen ce of hyperlipidaemia and its association with participants' sociodemo graphic characteristics and clinical problems. The percentage of patie nts with total serum cholesterol concentration (TSCC) of 5.2-6.8 mmol/ l was 39.3%, while those with TSCC exceeding 6.8 mmol/l was 9.5%. Hype rtriglyceridaemia (TG >2.5 mmol/l) was found in 5%. TSCC increased pro gressively with age up to the seventh decade. TSCC was higher among ob ese and diabetic patients than others. Obesity body mass index (BMI) > 29.9 kg/m2 was found in 32.8%, diabetes mellitus in 24.2%, hypertensio n in 11.1% and both diabetes and hypertension in 6.4%. There is an urg ent need to equip primary health care teams with training and resource s to help them give proper dietary advice, modify the local lifestyle and screen at least high-risk groups for hyperlipidaemia and other cor onary risk factors.