High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol: determining hygienic factors for intervention.
Current guidelines of the Adult Treatment Panel on High-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (HDL-C) emphasize the protective effect of HDL-C in reducing one's risk for coronary heart disease and recommend that individuals with serum HDL-C levels below 35 mg/dL utilize hygienic means to raise them. A cross-sectional study was performed to examine the relationship of the hygienic factors obesity (measured by percent body fat and body mass index), smoking, and aerobic exercise to HDL-C. The sample, consisting of 1701 male employees of a large aerospace hardware assembly plant, were evaluated by health risk appraisal and anthropometric measurement. Regression analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between body mass index, percent body fat, age, smoking and the level of HDL-C in the blood. Alcohol consumption was directly related to HDL-C, and Whites had a lower HDL-C than all other races combined. Aerobic exercise was not found to be significantly related to HDL-C. A model (multiple R2 = .1136) consisting of age, race, alcohol consumption, smoking, and body mass index fit the data well. These findings justify weight management and smoking cessation interventions for raising HDL-C. However, the role of aerobic exercise was not supported in this study as a means of raising HDL-C. Future studies should use maximum oxygen consumption as a measure of aerobic capacity, which may be a better indicator of aerobic exercise level. The role of medication and genetic and dietary factors in HDL-C management should also be explored. Although findings from this study support smoking cessation and weight management interventions, longitudinal research is needed to determine the most effective strategy for HDL-C management.
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HRS Monroe County Public Health Unit, Naval Medical Clinic of the United States Navy.
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D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL