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NHANES: Cholesterol levels improve among US adults
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An analysis of data from three National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys suggest a trend toward improved lipid levels among US adults between 1998 and 2010. However, further study is needed to determine the effects of trans-fatty acids and other factors, researchers said.
Using data from patients enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 1988-1994 (n=16,573), 1999-2002 (n=9,471), and 2007-2010 (n=11,766), Margaret D. Carroll, MSPH, from the CDC in Hyattsville, Md., and colleagues conducted cross-sectional analyses of the trend of lipid levels in adults aged 20 years or older.
This included total cholesterol, HDL, non-HDL, LDL and triglycerides during a 22-year period.
According to data, mean total cholesterol dropped from 206 mg/dL (95% CI, 205-207) in 1988-1994 to 196 mg/dL (95% CI, 195-198) in 2007-2010 (P<.001 for linear trend). Additionally, mean LDL decreased from 129 mg/dL (95% CI, 127-130) to 116 mg/dL (95% CI, 114-117; P<.001 for linear trend), and mean non-HDL decreased from 155 mg/dL (95% CI, 153-157) in 1988-1994 to 144 mg/dL (95% CI, 143-145) in 2007-2010 (P<.001 for linear trend). Moreover, mean HDL increased from 50.7 mg/dL (95% CI, 50-51) in 1988-1994 to 52.5 mg/dL (95% CI, 51.8-53.2) in 2007-2010 (P=.001 for linear trend), the researchers wrote.
Geometric mean serum triglyceride levels also increased from 118 mg/dL (95% CI, 114-121) in 1988-1994 to 123 mg/dL (95% CI, 119-127) in 1999-2002 before decreasing to 110 mg/dL (95% CI, 107-113) in 2007-2010 (P<.001 for quadratic trend).
Researchers said the prevalence of patients taking lipid-lowering medications increased from 3.4% in 1988-1994 to 15.5% in 2007-2010 (P<.001 for linear trend).
“The favorable trends in [total cholesterol], non-HDL-C, and LDL-C may be due in part to a decrease in consumption of trans-fatty acids or other healthy lifestyle changes, in addition to an increase in the percentage of adults taking lipid-lowering medications,” the researchers wrote. “They are unlikely to be the result of changes in physical activity, obesity, or intake of saturated fat.”
The researchers also noted that further research is needed to determine the effect of trans-fatty acids, lipid-lowering medications and healthy lifestyle factors.
Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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