title: Hypercholesterolemia and its associated risk factors-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2013.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and its associated factors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national multistage representative sample of Saudis aged 15 years or older was surveyed through face-to-face interviews. Data on sociodemographics, risk factors, and health information were collected, and blood sample analysis was performed. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.3 to account for the sample weights and complex survey design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between April and June 2013, a total of 10,735 participants completed the survey. Overall, 8.5% of Saudis had hypercholesterolemia. Another 19.6% had borderline hypercholesterolemia. Among hypercholesterolemic Saudis, 65.1% were undiagnosed, 2.3% were treated uncontrolled, 28.3% were treated controlled, and 4.3% were untreated. The risk of being hypercholesterolemic increased with age and among individuals who reported consuming margarine, obese individuals, and those who have been previously diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than a million Saudis have hypercholesterolemia, and 700,000 of them are unaware of their condition which can be controlled through early detection campaigns and lifestyle change and medication. An urgent awareness and screening campaign is needed in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prevent and avoid disease progression toward more serious stages.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basulaiman
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: Charbel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: El Bcheraoui
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: Marwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tuffaha
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Daoud
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaber
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mikhitarian
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ziad A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Memish
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Saeedi
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: AlMazroa
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle. Electronic address: mokdaa@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Ali H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mokdad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents
keywords: Hypercholesterolemia; Noncommunicable diseases; Saudi Arabia