PREVALENCE OF DYSLIPIDEMIA AMONG ADULTS ATTENDING PREVENTIVE HEALTH CHECKUP PROGRAM OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN RURAL GUJARAT

Background: Hypercholesterolemia is an important coronary risk factor. Few studies from western India have reported prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, particularly in preventive health checkup program. Objective: To determine prevalence of dyslipidemia in apparently healthy adults attending preventive health checkup program in rural Gujarat. Methods: From medical record database of the hospital, data of 1050 Individuals who were not known case of coronary artery disease and was undergoing preventive health checkup program were taken for analysis. Health records and cholesterol levels were recorded and analyzed based on NCEP -ATP III cut offs. Total cholesterol >200 mg/dl, HDL-C <40 mg/dl, LDLC >130 mg % and TG >150 mg% were defined as abnormal as per NCEP-ATP III criteria. Results: The mean values (+SD) of lipid abnormality in studied population were TC= 190+40 mg/dl, LDL= 108+32.6 mg/dl, HDL =49+14.6 mg/dl, TG 124+67.6 mg/dl. Mean TC: HDL ratio was 3.96+0.97 and mean LDL: HDL ratio was 2.37+0.97. Overall, 57.7 % was found to be dyslipidemic with above criteria, more so in males and in diabetics. Low HDLC was most common lipid abnormality in our population and male gender was found be single most important risk factor for low HDLC among studied variables. Serum TG levels were found to be significantly affected by age and presence of hypertension. Conclusions: The high prevalence of dyslipidemia in studied population is alarming, particularly so in younger population, even in rural areas and preventive measures should be taken early to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in the community