Dyslipidemia in seven Latin American cities: CARMELA study.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of dyslipidemia in the CARMELA study population.


METHODS
CARMELA was a cross-sectional study of cardiovascular risk conducted between September 2003 and August 2005 in adults (aged 25 to 64 years) living in Barquisimeto (n=1,824), Bogotá (n=1,511), Buenos Aires (n=1,412), Lima (n=1,628), Mexico City (n=1,677), Quito (n=1,620), and Santiago (n=1,605). Dyslipidemia was defined as the presence of one or more of the following conditions: triglycerides>/=200 mg/dL, or total cholesterol (TC)>/=240 mg/dL, or HDL cholesterol<40 mg/dL, or LDL cholesterol=not optimal, or currently taking antilipemic agents.


RESULTS
Prevalence rates of dyslipidemia in men and women were: 75.5% (CI: 71.9-79.1) and 48.7% (CI: 45.4-51.9) in Barquisimeto; 70% (CI: 66.2-73.8) and 47.7% (CI: 43.9-51.5) in Bogotá; 50.4% (CI: 46.8-54.0) and 24.1% (CI: 21.0-27.2) in Buenos Aires; 73.1% (CI: 69.3-76.8) and 62.8% (CI: 59.2-66.5) in Lima; 62.5% (CI: 58.5-66.5) and 37.5% (CI: 33.5-41.6) in Mexico City; 52.2% (CI: 47.9-56.5) and 38.1% (CI: 34.5-41.7) in Quito; and, 50.8% (CI: 47.1-54.4) and 32.8% (CI: 29.3-36.3) in Santiago.


CONCLUSIONS
Dyslipidemia was disturbingly prevalent and varied across cities. The most frequent dyslipidemia was low HDL-C followed by high triglycerides. The high TC/HDL-C ratios and non-HDL-C levels suggest a high risk of cardiovascular disease.
Vinueza
Raul
R
InterAmerican Foundation for Clinical Research, 708 Third Avenue, Sixth Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA. raulvinueza@yahoo.com
Boissonnet
Carlos Pablo
CP
Acevedo
Monica
M
Uriza
Felipe
F
Benitez
Francisco Jose
FJ
Silva
Honorio
H
Schargrodsky
Herman
H
Champagne
Beatriz
B
Wilson
Elinor
E
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged