title: [Hyperlipidemia in a general population: epidemiology].
abstract: Serum total cholesterol levels were measured in a general population aged 40 years or older in Hisayama, Japan, and were compared among three cohorts, including 1,621 residents in 1961(1st cohort), 2,053 in 1974(2nd cohort) and 2,649 in 1988(3rd cohort). Dietary habits were determined by a direct interview in the randomly chosen study subjects in 1965, 1985 and 1994. Serum cholesterol levels greatly increased by approximately 30 mg/dl or more in males and females of all age groups from 1st to 2nd cohort, and further but less greatly increased by 20 mg/dl or less from 2nd to 3rd cohort. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (> or = 220 mg/dl) was more markedly increased nine-fold from 3% in 1961 to 28% in 1988 for males, and six-fold from 7% to 42% for females. During the follow-up period, lifestyle including dietary habits in Hisayama had been changed or westernized, namely more intake of animal fats and proteins and less intake of carbohydrate or rice without changes in total energy intake. Consequently, the frequency of hypercholesterolemia increased in recent years with more obesity and diabetes. Modifications of lifestyle are highly recommended for prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Kyushu University.
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujishima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged