Serum lipid concentrations and prevalence of dyslipidemia in a large professional population in Beijing

BACKGROUND: Lipid abnormalities are major risk factors for premature coronary artery diseases. We investigated serum lipids and the prevalence of dyslipidemia in a professional population in Beijing and compared these data with those obtained in a similar population during 1984-1986. METHODS: We studied 14 963 individuals 20-90 years of age. Health status was determined by questionnaires and physical check-ups. Total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), and total triglycerides (TGs) were measured. TC >5.7 mmol/L, LDL-C >3.6 mmol/L, TGs >1.7 mmol/L, and HDL-C <0.9 mmol/L were defined as abnormal. RESULTS: Mean serum TC, LDL-C, and TG concentrations were increased compared with the values obtained in 1984-1986, with 52.7% of males and 42.9% of females having at least one abnormal lipid concentration. Hypercholesterolemia occurred in 6% of males and 2.8% of females in the younger group (20-39 years) and in 20.2% of males and 38.7% of females in the older group (>60 years). HDL-C was abnormally low in approximately 7% of males and in 1.6% of females. The prevalences of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and abnormally low HDL-C, especially the presence of slight hypertriglyceridemia, were higher than in 1984-1986 in all age groups. The increase was most prominent in the middle age group (40-59 years). CONCLUSIONS: Hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and abnormally low HDL-C have increased considerably over the past 20 years in professional populations in Beijing. Dietary changes and less physical activity resulting from rapid improvements in living conditions may be the causes for the increases. Enhanced preventive measures should be undertaken to modify these situations.