Age and sex dependent cholesterol values of adults in region Vojvodina, Yugoslavia

Abstract

The cholesterol values were epidemiologically studied in adults (N=21257) in the region of Vojvodina, Yugoslavia. All investigated persons were divided according to sex (7 319 males and 13 938 females) and age (in six decades). The cholesterol concentrations were assayed by the enzymatic method and the data were analyzed by GraphROC(R) for Windows and the Statgraphics(R) statistical software. The frequency distribution in each group was fitted to the Gaussian type by mathematical method and reference limits were calculated as 5% and 95% percentiles. Reference limits in all groups were higher than the values recommended by WHO. Cholesterol values in males and females increased with the age and reached the peak in the group of 50-60 yrs for men and in the group of 60-70 yrs for women. There was a significant difference between the mean values in subsequent age-groups. In the youngest age-group there were 50% of males and 50.4% of females with cholesterol levels below 5.2 mmol/L, and 17.5% of males and 14.5% of females with cholesterol levels above 6.5 mmol/L. The number of subjects with recommended values of cholesterol decreased with the age and in the group of 50-60 yrs we found 12.6% of males and 9.1% of females with cholesterol values below 5.2 mmol/L. In the same age-group, the largest number of subjects with cholesterol levels above 6.5 mmol/L was found: 50.7% of males and 60.1% of females. The study shows a very high prevalence of cholesterol risk factor among the adults in Vojvodina.