Korean Circ J.  2012 Feb;42(2):86-94. 10.4070/kcj.2012.42.2.86.

The Prevalence, Awareness and Treatment of High Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol in Korean Adults Without Coronary Heart Diseases: The Third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005

• Choi SJ
• Park SH
• Lee KS
• Park HY

• KMID: 1826379
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2012.42.2.86

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence, awareness and treatment of high low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) level in Korean adults without coronary heart disease.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
National representative cross-sectional surveys, data of 5248 Korean adults (2246 men and 3002 women) aged between 20 and 79 years from the Third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES III, 2005) was used. High LDL-C level was defined with the risk prediction algorithm published by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III).
RESULTS
The prevalence of the Korean adults with high LDL-C level who need therapeutic lifestyle changes was 19.9%, treatment with lipid-lowing medication was 2.1% and awareness of this condition was 7.9%. Meanwhile, the prevalence of the Korean with very high LDL-C level who should be considered for drug therapy was 13.5%, treatment with lipid-lowing medication was 2.7% and awareness of this condition was 8.1%. Overall, 47.9% (60.3% in male and 39.1% in female) of participants had a single lipid disorder (high LDL-C, high triglycerides: > or =200 mg/dL, low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol: <40 mg/dL), whereas 15.5% (23.5% in male and 9.7% in female) had at least two. Only 1.9% (2.8% in male and 1.2% in female) of all participants had all three lipid abnormalities as defined.
CONCLUSION
These findings indicate that continuous efforts are needed to increase awareness and treatment of high LDL-C level in our population to prevent cardiovascular disease.

Keyword

Dyslipidemia; Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol; Coronary heart disease

MeSH Terms

Adenosine Triphosphate
Adult
Aged
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cholesterol
Coronary Disease
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dyslipidemias
Heart
Humans
Korea
Life Style
Male
Nutrition Surveys
Prevalence
Adenosine Triphosphate
Cholesterol

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The prevalence of TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG levels by age group. TC: total cholesterol, LDL-C: low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, HDL-C: high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, TG: triglyceride.

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  Fig. 2 Proportion of Korean adults with a combination of high LDL-C, high TG, and low HDL-C. High LDL-C: LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL for patients with coronary hear disease (CHD) risk equivalents, ≥130 mg/dL for patients with two or more CHD risk factors, ≥160 mg/dL for those with 0-1 CHD risk factor, High TG: ≥200 mg/dL, Low HDL-C: <40 mg/dL for men and women. LDL-C: low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, HDL-C: high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, TG: triglyceride.

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