title: Hypercholesterolaemia in a rural white population and its relationship with other coronary risk factors.
abstract: The risk factor and dietary associations of hypercholesterolaemia were analysed. Twenty per cent of the 6,332 respondents aged 20-64 years in the Coronary Risk Factor Study (CORIS) were considered hypercholesterolaemic (i.e. above the 80th percentile). In this sample only 13.4% of men and 6.7% of women were on treatment, and only 32.7% and 37.1% respectively had 'desirable' high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Hypercholesterolaemia was significantly associated with a personal or family history of coronary heart disease, hypertension, smoking, obesity and hyperuricaemia. Analysis of the dietary intakes of a 15% subsample of the total population revealed no significant differences between high- and low-risk subjects in intake of dietary fats and cholesterol. However, high-risk subjects consumed significantly more animal protein and significantly less dietary fibre than those with a low cholesterol level. These findings reflect a subpopulation at high risk of coronary heart disease. Their risk can be reduced to some extent by population strategies towards healthier lifestyles; ultimately the high-risk individuals have to be identified and appropriately treated.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Nutritional Diseases of the South African Medical Research Council, Parowvallei, CP.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Steenkamp
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Jooste
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rossouw
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Benadé
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Swanepoel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol