A Study to determine the prevalence of hyperlipidemia, hyperhomocystenemia in young adults with a family history of coronary heart disease
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Date
2000
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Publisher
University of Colombo: UC(MED).
Abstract
Morbidity and mortality from coronary heart diseases (CHD) have been a major public health problem in Sri Lanka over the last two decades. Recent hospital data shows an increase prevalence among young adults. Changes in environmental factors such as, life style and food behaviour could change the lipid levels in individuals and its adverse effects are greater when genetic defects in lipid metabolism coexist. The aim of the present study was to establish whether abnormalities in lipid profile exist in subject with a family history of coronary heart disease but without clinical evidence of CHD, when compared with a control group of subjects without a history of CHD. Ninety five healthy adults were selected for the study and separated into two groups based on family history. All subjects included in the family history group had parents or siblings diagnosed with coronary heart disease. Data regarding their socioeconomic states, past medical history, physical activity, alcohol consumption and smoking habitis were obtained by means of an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Their food intakes were determined using the food frequency method. Weight, height and waist and hip circumference were also measured. Blood samples were collected from each subject after a 12-14 hour fast and serum was separated and used to determine the lipid profile and plasma was used to determine homocysteine and blood glucose levels. The mean total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels were similar in the family history group and control group. However, among subject in the age group less than 40 years, elevated total cholesterol levels (\>240 mg/dl) were noted in 18.5 percent of subjects with a family history while none of the subjects in the control group had elevated LDL cholesterol levels. Similarly in the age group \<40 years, the elevated LDL cholesterol \>130 mg/dl were noted in 43.4 percent of subjects with a family history while 27.5 percent subjects in the control group had elevated LDL cholesterol level and elevated triglyceride (\>180 mg/dl) were noted in 16.6 percent of subjects with a family history while 4.8 percent in the control group had elevated triglyceride levels. Further subjects in the age group \<40 years with a family history had a significantly higher mean serum triglyceride than in the control group. The mean fasting blood glucose levels were similar in the family history group. However, among subjects in the age group less than 40 years, elevated blood glucose levels (\>110 mg/dl) were noted in 11.1 percent of subjects with a family history while now of the subjects in the control group had elevated blood glucose levels. Elevated homocysteine levels were not a major problem in our study population and there was no significant difference in mean homocysteine levels between subjects with a family history and controls. It is important to note that five sunjects (16.12 percent) in the family history group and 3 subjects (13.63 percent) in the control had elevated homocysteine levels (\>15 umol/L). Our result suggest that although was no significant difference in serum total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels between subjects with a family history and controls, unfavorable lipid profiles could be detected at an earlier age (\<40 years) among subjects with a family history than in those without a family history.
Description
Dissertation: M.Sc., University of Colombo: UC(MED), 2000.
Keywords
Heart diseases
Citation
HEWAVITHARANA, HIKN, A Study to determine the prevalence of hyperlipidemia, hyperhomocystenemia in young adults with a family history of coronary heart disease, University of Colombo UC(MED), 2000: 92p.