Distribution and cardiovascular risk correlates of serum triglycerides in young adults from a biracial community - The Bogalusa Heart Study

Elevated serum triglyceride level is increasingly being recognized as an im portant indicator of cardiovascular risk. The distribution and correlates o f serum triglycerides were examined in a biracial (black-white) community-b ased sample of 1342 young adults (30% black) aged 20-37 years. Triglyceride levels showed significant race (white > black) and sex (male > female) dif ferences. Black females, despite their relatively increased body fatness, h ad lowest triglyceride levels. In terms of conjoint trait of dyslipidemia b ased on the National Cholesterol Education Program cutpoints, 9% of white m ales displayed high triglyceride (greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl) in co mbination with low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (< 35 mg/dl). In comparison, none of the black females fell into this category. Serum tr iglycerides even at levels between 100 and 150 mg/dl were significantly adv ersely associated with risk variables of insulin resistance syndrome such a s adiposity and visceral fatness measures, HDL-choleslerol, insulin, and sy stolic blood pressure, especially among whites. Visceral fatness as measure d by waist circumference (except black males) and insulin were the major pr edictors of triglyceride levels. Overall, triglyceride levels above 150 mg/ dl were associated with increased risk of hypertension (odds ratio (OR) = 1 .8, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.8-3.0), type 2 diabetes (OR = 3.1, CI = 1.4-6.9), parental history of hypertension (OR = 1.3, CI = 1.0-1.8) and p arental history of type 2 diabetes (OR = 1.7, CI = 1.2-2.3). Thus, serum tr iglyceride levels may be valuable in the assessment of cardiovascular risk during young adulthood. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights r eserved.