title: [How did cholesterol levels change in a village in Békés County, Hungary, during the last 20 years?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are only limited data about the change of cholesterol levels at population level in Hungary.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the authors was to compare current serum cholesterol levels to those measured 20 years ago in residents of a village in Békés County, Hungary.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a database of a general ptactitioner, serum cholesterol levels of 778 persons who participated in a screening program in 1994 in the village Méhkerék in Békés County were compared to those obtained 20 years later from 392 randomly selected persons matching age and gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum total cholesterol level of persons over 50 years was decreased by 5.9%, from 5.94±1.41 to 5.59±1.33 mmol/L (p≤0.01), while it remained unchanged in persons younger than 50 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decrease of serum cholesterol level observed in patients over 50 years of age can be a consequence of the widely used lipid lowering medication. The lack of change in persons below 50 years of age draws the attention that principles of primary prevention (diet, regular physical activity) should be used more consistently, and medical therapy should be applied when it is recommended by the guidelines.
authors.affiliation: II. Belgyógyászat-Kardiológia, Békés Megyei Pándy Kálmán Kórház Gyula, Semmelweis u. 1., 5700.
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Márk
authors.affiliation: Háziorvosi Rendelő Méhkerék.
authors.forename: Vince
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hanyecz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D018401:Sample Size; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: cholesterol; kockázati tényező; koleszterin; prevenció; prevention; risk factors; screening; szűrővizsgálat