Hypocholesterolaemia in a hospital population

The purpose of this study was to observe the prevalence of hypocholesterola emia in a hospital population and also the causes and clinical outcome of t his condition. Fifty-seven patients were found with a plasma cholesterol of less than or equal to 3.0 mmol/L, which was less than 0.50% of all plasma cholesterol requests, there were 39 men and 18 women (P<0.05, Chi-squared t est). The mean age was 53.8 [21.3] (range 3-83 years). The mean plasma chol esterol concentration was 2.28 [0.56] mmol/L (1.16-3.0) and the mean trigly ceride concentration was 1.58 [1.09]mmol/L (0.49-7.35). There was a significant correlation between plasma cholesterol concentratio n and plasma albumin (Rs = 0.48, P<0.01) and between plasma total protein c oncentration (Rs=0.49, P<0.01). However, there was no relationship between the concentrations of plasma cholesterol and triglyceride (Rs = -0.10: P>0. 05). Eighteen per cent of patients with hypocholesterolaemia died during their h ospitalization. Thirty-nine per cent of those who had a plasma cholesterol of less than or equal to 2.0 mmol/L died whereas 71% of those who had a pla sma cholesterol concentration of <1.5 mnol/L died. Hypocholesterolaemia was more commonly seen in the intensive care unit and in post-operative patien ts, those with malignancy, sepsis, acute myocardial infarction, those who h ad inflammatory bowel disease and diabetics on insulin. Hypocholesterolaemi a may be a useful predictor of mortality in hospital patients.