title: Prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy, total homocysteine concentrations > 15 μmol/L) has been associated with increased risk of many diseases. A systematic review was performed to summarize the prevalence of HHcy in China. We searched multiple international and Chinese scientific databases for relevant literature, and further manually screened reference lists and corresponded with original authors. Pooled prevalence of HHcy was calculated using random effects model. Subgroup analysis, meta-regression and sensitivity analysis were also performed. A total of 36 studies consisting 60,754 subjects (57.3% male; age range, 3-97 years) were finally included. The overall pooled prevalence of HHcy was 27.5%. Geographically, the prevalence was high in north areas, intermediate in central areas, and low in south areas, and was higher in inland versus coastal areas. The prevalence increased with age and was significantly higher in men than in women. Rural residents had a slightly higher HHcy prevalence than urban residents, and the studies conducted during 2006 to 2012 presented a higher HHcy prevalence than those during 1990 to 2005. In summary, the prevalence of HHcy in China is high, particularly in northern populations, the inlanders, males, and the elderly. Homocysteine-lowering strategies are necessary to reduce this highly preventable disorder.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Environment and Non-Communicable Disease, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110013, China. boyiyangcmu@163.com.
authors.forename: Boyi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Environment and Non-Communicable Disease, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110013, China. fanfan0721ykl@163.com.
authors.forename: Shujun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Environment and Non-Communicable Disease, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110013, China. zhixy90smile@126.com.
authors.forename: Xueyuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhi
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Preventive Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Targeted Therapy and Molecular Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China. 13817895706@163.com.
authors.forename: Yinuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Preventive Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Targeted Therapy and Molecular Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China. 13817895706@163.com.
authors.forename: Yanxun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Environment and Non-Communicable Disease, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110013, China. qmzheng@mail.cmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Quanmei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Environment and Non-Communicable Disease, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110013, China. sungf@mail.cmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Guifan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine