Prevalence, patterns, and associations of dyslipidemia among Sri Lankan adults-Sri Lanka Diabetes and Cardiovascular Study in 2005-2006.

BACKGROUND

Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Prevalence patterns and determinants of dyslipidemia in Sri Lanka are unkown.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of dyslipidemia among Sri Lankan adults.

METHODS

A nationally representative sample was recruited by multistage random cluster sampling in Sri Lanka Diabetes and Cardiovascular Study, a cross-sectional study. Data collected by an interviewer-administered questionnaire, physical examination, anthropometric measurements lipid analysis from take 12-hour fasting blood samples were used.

RESULTS

Among 4451 participants 60.5% were women and mean age was 46 years. Mean (standard deviation) total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), triglycerides (TGs), and TC/HDLC levels were 206.7 mg/dL (±43.5), 46.8 mg/dL (±10.6), 135.5 mg/dL (±37.6), 121.7 mg/dL (±66.8), and 4.6 (±1.1), respectively. Women had higher mean TC, HDLC, LDLC, and TG values compared to men across all age groups. Mean TC, LDLC, and TGs increased with age in both genders; 77.4% of participants had some form of dyslipidemia. Low HDLC was the commonest type (49.6%) of dyslipidemia. Increasing age, female sex, living in urban sector, high body mass index, central obesity, diabetes, hypertension, insufficient physical activity, and smoking were associated with having some form of dyslipidemia.

CONCLUSION

Three in four Sri Lankan adults have some form of dyslipidemia. Physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes are the leading modifiable risk factors.