Prevalence and factors associated with non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol among Thai adults in Khon Kaen Province of Northeastern Thailand

Abstract

The presence of elevated non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) is considered to indicate a  risk  for  cardiovascular  diseases.  The  purpose  of  this  study  was  to  determine  the  prevalence  of  high non-HDL-C level and to explore factors associated with non-HDL-C among northeastern Thai adults. A  crosssectional study was carried out among 444 Thai adults aged 35 to 60 years living in Khon Kaen Province, Northeastern  Thailand.  A  cluster  random  sampling  was  used  to  select  subjects.  The  lipid  blood  parameters measured were total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The  level  of  non-HDL-C  was  calculated  by  subtracting  HDL-C  from  TC.  The  Pearson’s  correlation  was used to examine the correlation between non-HDL-C levels with metabolic risk factors and multiple logistic regressions were used to  define  factors associated  with  non-HDL-C.

The results showed that the mean age of the participants was 49.1 years and that 70.5% of the participants were women. The proportion of participants with high non-HDL-C (≥ 160 mg/dL) was 40.1%. Non-HDL-C level was positively correlated with metabolic risk factors including waist circumference, systolic and diastolic
blood  pressure,  triglyceride,  and  LDL-C  level.  Multiple  logistic  regression  showed  that  high  non-HDL-C were significantly  correlated with  increasing  age (Adj.OR =  2.15,  95% CI =  1.42 – 3.25), high  body mass index (Adj.OR = 1.98, 95% CI =1.33 – 2.96), and abdominal obesity (Adj.OR = 1.93, 95% CI =1.28 – 2.90).

These  findings  confirm  that  obesity  is  commonly  associated  with  the  risk  indicator  of  high  non-HDLC.  Further  research  is  needed  to  find  effective  prevention  programmes  for  reducing  obesity  and  increasing
healthy  lifestyles.