Total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in relation to socioeconomic status in a sample of 11,645 Greek adults: the EPIC study in Greece. European Prospective Investigation into Nutrition and Cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between educational level, a powerful indicator of socioeconomic status in Greece, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in a large sample of Greek adults.


METHODS
The study sample consisted of 11,645 subjects, 4,398 men and 7,247 women, aged 23-86 years, who voluntarily participated in the Greek component of the EPIC study during 1994-98. Educational attainment was divided into low, medium, and high. Linear regression analyses were performed, in men and women separately, using total and HDL-cholesterol as dependent variables and educational level as independent, while controlling for age.


RESULTS
Total blood cholesterol values are inversely associated with educational level in both genders, a pattern contrasting with that found 20 years ago. The association is more prominent among women. HDL-cholesterol values are inversely associated with educational level in men, whereas the association is less consistent in women.
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece. vben@nut.uoa.gr
V
V
Benetou
Y
Y
Chloptsios
X
X
Zavitsanos
D
D
Karalis
A
A
Naska
A
A
Trichopoulou
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D002784:Cholesterol