title: Coronary risk factors in the coloured population of the Cape Peninsula.
abstract: A cross-sectional study of risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) in a random sample of 976 coloured people revealed a population greatly at risk of CHD. The major reversible risk factors--hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension and smoking--were very common, with 56% of the men and 40% of the women smoking, 18% of both men and women being hypertensive and 17% of both sexes being hypercholesterolaemic. At high cut-off points 62,8% of the men and 59,4% of the women had at least one major reversible risk factor. At lower but real levels of risk, over 80% of the population was affected. Other risk factors such as inactivity, overweight, hyperuricaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and a positive family history of CHD were all common in this population group. A 'protective' high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level of greater than or equal to 20% of the total serum cholesterol level was found in 74,5% of the men and 81,1% of the women. A comparison with available data on other South African population risk profiles shows marked differences. The need for preventive strategies in the coloured population is clear.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D044383:Black People; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking; D013019:South Africa; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D044465:White People; D014937:Work
chemical_list: D014527:Uric Acid; D002784:Cholesterol