[Prevalence of discrepant lipid levels in Curaçao].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of lipid risk factors in Curaçao and to investigate possible interactions with socioeconomic and demographic variables.


METHODS
Cross-sectional population-based study.


METHODS
Public Health Laboratory and Public Health Service, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles.


METHODS
In a random sample of persons aged 18 years and over from the population of Curaao, serum levels were measured of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides and, in a smaller number of samples, of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)). The findings were in persons between 20 and 60 years compared with those reported for a random sample from the Netherlands. Multiple regression analysis was used to study the relationship between the total cholesterol values found and various socio-economic variables (age, sex, education, place of residence, race).


RESULTS
Among persons aged 20-59 years serum cholesterol levels were > 6.5 mmol/l in 30 of the 288 male participants (11%) and in 42 of the 427 female participants (10%). Fifty-three of the males (18%) had HDL cholesterol levels < 0.9 mmol/l as against 31 of the females (7%). The distributions of both total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels was better in Curaao than in the Netherlands, among males aged 20-29 years and males and females over 40 years of age. The median Lp(a) concentration of the 225 participants of Curaao in whom it was measured was 250 mg/l, as against 80 mg/l in the Dutch group. More advanced age, female sex, higher educational level, negroid race and residence in the 'East District' were correlated with a higher serum level of total cholesterol.


CONCLUSIONS
Both total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol concentrations were favourable in Curaçao compared with the Netherlands, especially in the elderly population.
Leerink
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CB
Afd. Klinische Chemie en Hematologie, Willemstad, Curaçao, Laboratorium voor de Volksgezondheid van de Nederlandse Antillen.
Gerstenbluth
I
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009427:Netherlands Antilles / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012494:Sampling Studies
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008055:Lipids; D002784:Cholesterol