Lipemic disorders and some associated risk factors in a population on the outs kirts of Greater S. Paulo, SP, Brazil

Abstract

A survey of the prevalence of lipemic disorders and some risk factors associated with them (obesity, hypertension and alcoholism), in a representative sample of the population of 20 years of age and over in a locality typical of the peripheral zone of the Greater S. Paulo Region, Brazil, both in terms of the poverty of the population and with regard to the lack of public sources such as sewage, transport and housing, is undertaken. The following results were obtained: a) the prevalence of one risk factor was of about 55%, and of two or more associated risk factors was of approximately 9% in the age group from 20 to 39. There was found to be a prevalence of about 51% and 57%, respectively of two or more associated risk factors for the age groups from 40 to 59 and 60 years of age and over; b) the prevalence of lipemic disorders proper was of about 49%, 58% and 57% respectively, for the age groups of 20 to 39, 40 to 59 and 60 years of age and over. In these cases the most prevalent risk factors among men were alcoholism and hypertension, either isolatedly or associated with obesity, and among women the most prevalent was obesity, alone or associated with hypertension; c) the most prevalent lipemic disorder was due to HDL-cholesterol, mainly among the younger people. The prevalence lower-than-normal HDL-cholesterol, was of about 28% and of "other lipemic disorders" was of 22% in the age group between 20 and 39 years of age. For those between 40 and 59 years of age the prevalence of low HDL-cholesterol and "other lipemic disorders" was of about 20% and 38% respectively. Among those above 60 years of age, the prevalence of HDL-cholesterol below normal was of about 7% and "other lipemic disorders" was of aproximately 50%; d) obesity whether isolated or associated, was the most significant with higher "prevalence risk ratio". The lipemic disorders and risk factors studied probably represent a severe public health problem for the population of the peripheral zone of the city of S. Paulo.