High density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels increase with age in American women but not in Hong Kong Chinese women.
OBJECTIVE
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is a powerful cardiovascular risk factor. Important gender and ethnic differences in plasma HDL levels exist and warrant investigation.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey in two different general populations. Patients 7700 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002 and 1944 participants of the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Study-2 (CRISPS2) 2000-2004.


METHODS
Plasma HDL levels.


RESULTS
Plasma HDL levels were higher in women than in men in both populations. In the United States women, it increased with age, whereas in Chinese women, it declined with age and converged with male HDL levels. In the United States, 37.1 +/- 1.2% men and 38.9 +/- 1.1% women had low HDL levels. In Hong Kong, 34.3 +/- 1.6% men and 34.5 +/- 1.5% women had low HDL levels. In Americans, the independent predictors of low HDL levels were lower age, being non-Mexican Hispanic, waist circumference, triglycerides and not drinking alcohol in men, and lower age, being Hispanic, waist circumference, triglycerides, current smoking and not drinking alcohol in women. In Hong Kong Chinese, the independent predictors of low HDL levels were body mass index, triglycerides, current smoking and not drinking alcohol in men, and lower age, waist circumference, triglycerides, diabetes and former smoking in women.


CONCLUSIONS
The decline in plasma HDL with age in Chinese women is opposite to that seen in American women. The increased cardiovascular risk in elderly Chinese women requires further study.
Cheung
Bernard M Y
BM
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, England. b.cheung@bham.ac.uk
Li
Mingfang
M
Ong
Kwok Leung
KL
Wat
Nelson M S
NM
Tam
Sidney
S
Pang
Richard W C
RW
Thomas
G Neil
GN
Woo
Jean
J
Janus
Edward D
ED
Lau
Chu Pak
CP
Lam
Tai Hing
TH
Lam
Karen S L
KS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL